Davits

Crane-like structures mounted on a vessel used for lowering, raising, and storing lifeboats, tenders, or other equipment. 

Davits are essential components on ships and boats, primarily designed for handling lifeboats and small auxiliary craft. They consist of a pair of arms, often curved or angled, that extend outward from the vessel’s structure. These arms are equipped with pulleys and winches to facilitate the controlled lowering and hoisting of boats or equipment. 

There are several types of davits, including gravity davits, which allow lifeboats to be launched quickly using their own weight, and radial davits, which require manual swinging. Modern vessels often use fully automated davit systems for efficiency and safety. 

Davits are commonly found on larger ships such as cruise liners, cargo vessels, and naval ships, where they play a crucial role in emergency evacuations. They are also used on yachts and workboats for handling tenders or deploying scientific and operational equipment. Proper maintenance of davits is essential to ensure their reliability, particularly in emergency situations where rapid deployment of lifeboats is critical.