Bombard makes liferafts for ocean navigation and coastal boating.
Light, compact and economical, they comply with the ISO 9650 standard and are fitted out to deal with all situations. Bombard is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of liferafts, chosen by shipyards everywhere to equip their cruise liners, their cargo ships and their ferries with SOLAS(1) approved equipment whose references are superior to those offered by most of the competition.

More visible

A canopy fitted with a reflective tape increases the chances of electronic detection. For optimum location by day and night, a larger surface area of retro-reflective strips, are ideally distributed on the canopy and underneath. A brightly colored underside making it easy to spot if the liferaft has capsized. Webbing will guide you easily towards the entrance of the liferaft.

More stable

Stabilizing water ballast pockets. High volume, weighted water ballast pockets for immediate deployment give stability when boarding and stabilize the liferaft in high winds and heavy seas. Airtight compartments. On setting off the gas inflation system, the whole inflatable structure (buoyancy tubes and canopy arch(2)) is immediately inflated. The two buoyancy tubes are totally independent of each other, ensuring that the liferaft stays afloat even if one of the tubes is punctured.

More reliable

Vacuum packed protection. More than 15 years ago Bombard came up with the idea of vacuum packing the liferaft in a partially evacuated plastic pocket. This keeps the liferaft at a constant level of humidity and protects it from damaging changes of the environment and the corrosive, salty atmosphere. A long life expectancy and increased protection of the vital safety equipment packed in the liferaft are direct benefits of this system.

The cellular foam floor with aluminium film coating(3) reflects natural body heat providing protection and insulation from the cold of the water. This system offers superior insulation, lighter weight and needs no inflation system to work, compared to an older style inflatable floor.

Firing head. Bombard uses the same exclusive firing head on all its liferafts from 4 person leisure models to 50 person commercial models. Using tensioned firing pin (similar to that of a fire-arm) inflation is immediate and risk free: no moving parts to block the system or impede inflation. Unlike the crude methods used in some liferafts, this system does not rely on the physical strength of the user to set it off, the pressure of releasing the trigger spring is enough to start the inflation.

More efficient

A built-in self-bailer (a Bombard patent) allows the water taken on board, in particular during inflation, to be drained automatically from the raft. This will help to ensure dry comfort after boarding. An optimised boarding system, with 2 ladders (inside and outside), makes it easy to climb aboard from the water. The BIP Offshore ISO 9650 models are also equipped with an access ramp.

(1) Worldwide regulations for the Safety Of Life At Sea.
(2) Except fibreglass arch of the BIP Coast ISO 9650.
(3) Except for BIP Coast ISO 9650 models.

BIP OFFSHORE Raft for long-distance trips
BIP COAST Coastal navigation with total safety