Commercial Life Jackets

Life vests have saved many lives on the water, plain and simple. Wearing a life vest or jacket is the simplest thing you can do to increase your chances of staying safe in case of emergency. If you are involved in search and rescue operations, commercial shipping and fishing, or other kinds of on-water or shoreline work, a specialized personal flotation device (PFD) is mandatory. The increased buoyancy of specifically-designed commercial life jackets makes them much bulkier than regular PFDs, so they are generally uncomfortable to wear during recreational activities.

PFDs come in inherently buoyant and inflatable designs and fall under five categories classified by USCG, from Type I to Type V. Type I provides the most protection and is designed to keep an unconscious user afloat in a face-up position. This kind of PFD is commonly used on commercial vessels. Type III and V are a popular choice for recreational boating and watersports. Commercial life jacket manufacturers design their products taking into account the industry their products will be used in. Depending on the application, they may come with features like radio pockets, attached marine safety whistles, rescue harnesses, etc.