All life-boats carry chocolate, biscuits and rum, as emergency rations. The life-boats with cabins, which may have long distances to travel, also carry corned-beef.

To their rations have now been added coeoa-milk and oxtail soup in self-heating tins. A cap on top of the tin covers a small wick, and when this wick is lighted chemicals inside the tin heat the contents in five minutes..