Lifeboats are floating crafts that can rescue crew and passengers from a vessel in distress. They can be rigid or inflatable and vary in size and build.
However, though interchangeably used, lifeboats are somewhat different from rescue boats, which are to be deployed immediately in an emergency.
While lifeboats, life rafts, and other rescue crafts are deployed on vessels, it is equally important that, if the situation allows, other means of evacuation and rescue from external sources should be...
https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-safety/what-are-fast-rescue-boats/