Question 171Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is D) Depress the hydrostatic release button. For an inflatable life raft not designed for float-free operation, the hydrostatic release button must be depressed in order to manually launch the raft. This allows the raft to be released from the vessel in the event of sinking, as the hydrostatic pressure will activate the release mechanism. The other options, such as cutting the securing straps or breaking the weak link, are not the proper procedures for manually launching this type of life raft. Properly deploying the hydrostatic release is the critical step to ensure the raft can inflate and provide the necessary safety equipment when needed.