Sea Life Fortress: A Brief Introduction to SOLAS Fully Enclosed Lifeboats

On January 28, 2025, the container ship "ASL Bauhinia" in the Red Sea experienced a severe fire and explosion, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon ship. They drifted in the dangerous waters aboard SOLAS fully enclosed lifeboats until they were spotted by the rescue vessel "AMOY CENTURY". 

• Thanks to the lifeboats' bright colors and stable buoyancy, the rescue vessel quickly located them and safely brought all the crew members aboard in less than 1.5 hours. 

• The fully enclosed hull effectively isolated them from the dense smoke and high temperatures of the fire, buying the crew valuable time to await rescue.

Another case occurred on July 12, 2025, in the waters off Chengshan Cape, Weihai, where a small vessel capsized, trapping three people in the overturned hull. The Xiamen-registered cargo ship "Hongtai 613" spotted them and immediately deployed SOLAS fully enclosed lifeboats to conduct a rescue operation. 

• Despite the complex sea conditions, the lifeboat, with its agile maneuverability and stable navigation performance, accurately approached the distressed area. 

• The crew used the rescue equipment on board the lifeboat to throw life rings, and ultimately successfully rescued all three people in distress. The entire rescue process took only 37 minutes.

Fully Enclosed Lifeboat

On ocean voyages, the SOLAS fully enclosed lifeboat serves as the crew's "last line of defense." Designed and manufactured in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), it is an essential emergency equipment for all types of ocean-going vessels and offshore oil platforms, specifically designed for personnel evacuation and survival in extreme sea conditions.

Its core highlight is its fully enclosed design. The hull is equipped with rigid watertight enclosures, and the hatches can be opened in both directions and securely locked, effectively resisting wind, rain, and waves. Even in harsh environments such as polar cold or tropical storms, it provides a stable sheltered space for occupants. The exterior of the hull features a bright, easily visible color, while the interior uses comfortable tones and is equipped with windows to allow natural light to enter.

Its safety performance is truly "hardcore." It has an automatic righting function, so even if it capsizes, it can naturally return to a buoyant state without significant water leakage inside the cabin. Each seat is equipped with color-coded seat belts to securely restrain occupants. The propulsion system can operate normally or restart during capsizing, ensuring autonomous navigation to a safe area after evacuation.