Abstract: This study focuses on inflatable rescue boats, providing a comparative analysis of standards from major international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), as well as representative countries and regions such as the European Union, Japan, and China. By examining the standardization frameworks and key performance testing standards for inflatable boats both domestically and internationally, it is observed that most Chinese standards are derived from or adapted from IMO and ISO benchmarks, with modifications introduced to better suit local needs. However, the absence of dedicated testing indicators and methods for rescue-specific performance constrains the wider application and advancement of inflatable boats in water rescue operations. In light of the distinctive demands of water rescue scenarios, this paper outlines a set of performance requirements for inflatable boats during rescue missions and proposes corresponding performance indicators and testing protocols in areas such as speed, safe-drop capability, and self-righting performance.

Key words: inflatable rescue boat, standard comparison, testing methods