A davit is a crane-like arm used to raise, lower, or suspend heavy loads over the edge of a structure, most commonly a ship’s side or a building’s rooftop. You’ve likely seen davits without knowing the name: they’re the curved arms on ships that hold lifeboats in place and swing them out over the water for launching. But davits also show up on skyscrapers, oil platforms, and other tall structures where workers or equipment need to be lowered over a ledge safely.
How Davits Work on Ships
The most recognizable davit is the maritime version, mounted along the deck of a vessel to deploy lifeboats, rescue craft, and life rafts. A ship-mounted davit typically consists of a vertical post (the mast) and a horizontal or angled arm (the boom) that pivots outward over the water. A winch and cable system attached to the arm lowers the lifeboat to the sea surface and later retrieves it.
In an emergency, speed matters more than anything. Many modern davit systems use gravity as the primary force, meaning they don’t depend on the ship’s electrical power to function. The lifeboat’s own weight pulls it downward along a track or pivot point, so the crew can launch it even during a total power failure. Free-fall davit systems take this a step further: the lifeboat slides down a steep skid and drops into the water at a distance from the vessel, keeping it clear of a sinking or burning hull. Hydraulic winch systems handle the slower, controlled process of recovering a lifeboat after drills or rescue operations.
Types of Maritime Davits
Ship davits fall into a few main categories based on how they move the boat from its stowed position to the water.
- Gravity davits rely on the weight of the lifeboat itself to drive the launch sequence. They require minimal crew effort, work without external power, and are the most common type on merchant vessels. Within this category, there are single-pivot, multi-pivot, and roller track configurations.
- Single-pivot gravity davits rotate outward on a single hinge point while keeping the davit head at a constant height. This means the lifeboat stays level as the arm swings out, reducing the need for complicated adjustments during a high-pressure deployment.
- Roller track davits guide the lifeboat outward along a set of rails or rollers built into the deck, letting gravity carry it to the launching position at the ship’s edge.
- Free-fall davits use a ramp or skid to launch a lifeboat directly into the water at speed. These are common on large cargo ships and offshore installations where getting the boat well away from the structure quickly is critical.
Davits on Buildings
Davits aren’t limited to ships. On commercial buildings, davit systems serve as anchor points for window washers, façade inspectors, and maintenance crews who work from suspended platforms or bosun chairs (small single-person seats hung by rope). A building davit works on the same basic principle as a maritime one: a mast-and-boom arm extends out over the edge of the roof so a worker or platform can be lowered down the side of the building.
A typical building davit setup has three parts. The pedestal base is permanently bolted into the building’s structure, usually on the roof, and acts as the main anchor point. A davit socket (sometimes called a boot) connects the removable davit arm to the base using locking pins. The davit arm itself, with its mast and boom, slots into the socket and extends outward over the building’s edge. When not in use, the arm can be removed, leaving only the low-profile base on the rooftop.
Some setups use counterweighted davit arms instead of bolted bases. These rely on heavy weights to stay in place rather than a permanent mount. Once a worker goes over the side of the building, a counterweighted arm cannot be moved, and it must be tied to a certified anchor point for safety.
Regardless of the davit type, tiebacks are required as a second anchor point. When counterweighted arms are paired with bosun chairs, two separate tiebacks are needed for each drop point. One practical reason buildings use davits rather than simply running ropes over the roof edge: the arm holds the rope away from the parapet and roofline, preventing damage to both the building and the rope.
When Buildings Require Davit Systems
Building codes generally tie davit requirements to height. Structures 36 feet tall (roughly three stories) or higher typically need roof davits and tiebacks installed unless all window cleaning and maintenance can be done from ground-based equipment like boom lifts. At 48 feet, or about four stories, a permanent safety system is required regardless of whether ground equipment could reach. For buildings taller than 300 feet, rope descent systems are only permitted under special circumstances where a suspended scaffold or stage cannot be used, and davit bases, arms, and tiebacks are required as part of the safety infrastructure.
Safety Standards and Inspections
Maritime davits fall under international safety rules governed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the SOLAS convention (Safety of Life at Sea). Lifeboat davits specifically are treated as life-saving appliances and follow their own dedicated set of inspection and maintenance requirements separate from general onboard cranes.
For onboard lifting appliances more broadly, a new SOLAS regulation (II-1/3-13) takes effect on January 1, 2026, requiring annual thorough examinations and load testing every five years. Lifeboat davits, life raft launchers, and rescue boat appliances are excluded from this particular rule unless they serve a dual purpose, such as doubling as a provision crane. That said, lifeboat davits still have their own rigorous inspection schedules under existing SOLAS life-saving equipment regulations.
On the building side, davit systems must be designed and installed to meet load capacity standards, and the bases, sockets, pins, and tiebacks all require regular inspection. The locking clips on davit socket pins, the integrity of anchor bolts in the pedestal base, and the condition of the tiebacks are all critical checkpoints before any worker goes over the edge.
Where Else Davits Are Used
Beyond ships and skyscrapers, davits appear in a range of settings where something heavy needs to be moved over an edge. Offshore oil and gas platforms use davit systems to launch rescue craft and lower equipment to supply boats. Docks and marinas use smaller davits to lift personal watercraft or dinghies out of the water. Some industrial facilities mount davits near hatches or confined-space entries to lower workers or retrieve them in an emergency. The core mechanics are always the same: a pivoting arm, a cable or rope, and a secure anchor point that lets you move a load safely over a drop.