What is Hydrostatic Release Unit?

Lifeboats and life rafts are crucial for sustaining lives on a vessel during emergencies. 

This article explains a very interesting aspect of this topic: the Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU). 

We know that lifeboats and life rafts differ in their applicability, features, and how they cater to saving lives at sea. Generally, a lifeboat is bigger and can hold a significant number of passengers on board in the event of a vessel sinking. On the other hand, a life raft is smaller, primarily inflatable, and portable, and can hold fewer passengers. 

A crucial advantage of liferafts is that they can be easily and quickly released in an emergency. This allows them to be reliable means for saving lives, as per the SOLAS requirements mandated for any sea-going vessel. 

The speed with which life rafts can be released from onboard makes them a critical component of the Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) indispensable for vessels. Now, all sorts of Life-saving appliances must