Tender

A small craft used to carry people, stores or equipment between a parent vessel and shore or another vessel.

A tender may be a rigid dinghy, inflatable boat, rigid inflatable boat or other launch carried aboard, towed or kept nearby. Its size, propulsion, load capacity and equipment should suit the operating area and the parent vessel’s needs.

A tender is not automatically a lifeboat or approved survival craft. Safe use requires attention to loading, freeboard, weather, fuel or battery endurance, communications, navigation lights where applicable and suitable personal flotation equipment.