What action should be taken if an inflatable life raft is floating in its container while the ship is sinking rapidly?

In the scenario of an inflatable life raft floating in its container while the ship is sinking rapidly, the most appropriate action is to allow the raft to inflate and deploy as designed. Inflatable life rafts are specifically engineered to deploy automatically when the painter, which is a line attached to the raft and the vessel, is pulled. However, if the raft is already floating, it indicates that the emergency deployment mechanism has been activated, allowing the raft to inflate.

If one were to cut the raft free or secure it with ropes at this moment, it could lead to complications. Cutting the raft free could potentially damage it or cause it to be lost, while securing it might hinder its ability to deploy fully and may not allow for a timely escape. Thus, letting the raft inflate and allowing the design to function as intended is the best course of action when faced with a rapidly sinking vessel. This ensures that crew members have the best chance to safely board the life raft and abandon the sinking ship.