I have done the uppsy-daisy helicopter thing as part of safety orientation in the NPS when doing flights over water. Got some good tips which I have never had to use, fortunately. During another flight safety training secession, we were urged to get in the habit of carrying survival basics on the body, not in a handy pack, because of the possibility of the pack's hanging up as you tried to exit - a really good application for a Ritter PSK.

To get back on topic, I would be surprised if the aren't safety training requirements for mariners, although that probably varies from government to government. Most inflatable life rafts require servicing at something like five year intervals, and that should be a good time to inflate them.

Maybe someone with maritime experience can expand on this topic further