Why are lifeboats often built with air chambers?

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Alaska: Commercial fishing — boat A commercial salmon-fishing boat in Alaska.

Lifeboats are equipped with air chambers primarily to provide reserve buoyancy. This design feature ensures that the craft remains afloat even if it becomes nearly filled with water during severe sea conditions.1

By incorporating these chambers, lifeboats maintain their structural integrity and ability to stay on the surface, a critical requirement for rescue missions. This concept of the unsinkable boat dates back to the 18th century, when designers sought to create vessels that could retain buoyancy and right themselves if capsized, establishing the standard for modern maritime safety.1