Footwear for emergency use at sea? (5)
I believe the answer is:
pumps
'footwear' is the definition.
(pumps is a kind of footwear)
'use at sea?' is the wordplay.
'use' becomes 'pump' (pumping is a kind of using).
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'sea?' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'pump'+'s'='PUMPS'
'for emergency' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pumps that I've seen before include "Forces liquid to move; light shoes" , "Light dancing shoes - force air into" , "needed by cyclists" , "Dancing shoes - may be manned!" , "Cycle attachments" .)