The life raft was probably packed in a hard shell container. You just don't go into those to borrow something. You would have to break the retaining straps. Packing the raft without the required equipment would have been a violation of USCG regs and the life raft packing facility would have been negligent. But since the knives are tethered to the actual raft, it's improbable that a packing facility would forget to pack it.

I think it is more of an issue of the panic of the moment and/or improper training of the crew. The knife/knives was probably there, they just didn't recognize it or know where to look for it. But generally they are in a very conspicuous place by design.

Tom A.