There is a training facility nearby that is supported by the cruise ship industry to support mariners . I took advanced firefighting there in 2000. My guess is that this liferaft has a tie to the school.
I thought it was odd, seeing it passing over the bridge. The day I finally stop to look, they are dragging it ashore. It's huge! I suspect that it has to be something for the cruise ships since it was far bigger than any life raft I've ever seen.