Abstract: A life boat is disclosed having a hull, a propulsion system, and a conning system. The hull has an open or openable bow, a fore deck and a powered recovery ramp installed in or on the fore deck for deployment forwards of the bow for recovery of a casualty ahead of the bow of the life boat. The life boat may be unmanned and able to draw a survivor up on the recovery ramp and into the relative safety of the rescue deck area of the fore deck without human assistance. The life boat 1 may include a cabin area where the survivor can be given more protection from the environment.