Directions for securing empty life raft (4)
I believe the answer is:
slew
'raft' is the definition.
(I know that raft can be written as slew)
'directions for securing empty life' is the wordplay.
'directions for' becomes 'sw' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'securing' indicates putting letters inside.
'empty' suggests removing the centre.
'life' with its centre taken out is 'le'.
'sw' enclosing 'le' is 'SLEW'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for slew that I've seen before include "Slide uncontrollably" , "to take a turn" , "Butchered" , "Killed long ago" , "Turn uncontrollably" .)