A life raft is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment on board a vessel. It has been designed, tested, and approved to save your life in the event you must abandon a ship. The only way to ensure that your life raft is in exceptional condition and ready for deployment is to inspect it annually by an approved service station. Annual inspection ensures that your life raft will perform and operate as designed. Annual inspections are the only way to combat the wide range of elements the life raft is subject to each year that accelerate the natural aging process of the life raft and its components. By inspecting your life raft annually you will increase the life expectancy of the unit and most importantly restore your confidence while on open waters.
Service costs
The total fee for your liferaft service includes:
- Base service fee
- Items replaced
- Spare parts used for service
- Required documentation
Listed below are items that may add to the base inspection fee basis type and age of the raft:
- Hand flares – 3 years
- Parachute flares – 3 years
- Smoke Signals – 3 years
- Repair kit glue – 3 year
- Batteries, flashlight – 1 year
- Batteries, interior/exterior lights – 5 years
- First aid kit Liferaft service Montenegro
- Sea sickness tablets Liferaft service Montenegro
- Food rations – 5 years Liferaft service Montenegro
- Drinking water – 5 years Liferaft service Montenegro
- Manufacturer’s certificates Liferaft service Montenegro
- Gaskets and seals Liferaft service Montenegro
- Bursting straps Liferaft service Montenegro
- Vacuum bags Liferaft service Montenegro
- CO2 cylinder testing and refilling Liferaft service Montenegro
- Hydrostatic releases Liferaft service Montenegro
- Labels Liferaft service Montenegro
- Five-year GI tests Liferaft service Montenegro
- Hoses replacement at GI test intervals Liferaft service Montenegro
- Necessary Additional Pressure Test Liferaft service Montenegro
- Floor seam test Liferaft service Montenegro
- Blast test Liferaft service Montenegro
Typical inspection procedure
The container or valise is visually inspected for damage prior opening.- The container or valise is opened and the life raft is removed for inspection.
- Inflation gas cylinder is removed for later inspection and weighing.
- Equipment bag is removed for later equipment check.
- A detailed inspection is performed while unfolding the life raft to identify any damage or deterioration of fabric or adhesive or any other abnormalities
- The life raft is filled with dry compressed air and pressure relief valves are tested at this time to confirm proper operation.
- Triggering and proper function of external/internal lighting system is verified at this stage as well.
- Once inflated raft is left to stretch the fabric prior to commencing the specified leak test on each tube. Pressure relief valves will reset during the stretching period, the fabric and seams are again inspected for any signs of deterioration including all attachments.
- After stretching time has elapsed tubes are then pressure tested for the specified time. The pressure is recorded at the beginning of the test and checked again at the end of the specified time. The end pressure is adjusted for temperature and atmosphere pressure change. The end pressure is recorded and checked for loss in order to verify tubes integrity.
- The equipment bag content and internal raft equipment are checked during the pressure test period. Dated items are replaced only if their stamped expiration dates is falling before next planned service date. The lighting system and raft attachments are checked during the pressure testing period.
- The inflation gas cylinder is inspected at this time for damage, hydrostatic test date and is then weighed. Triggering head is fired and internally inspected for condition. Required seals are replaced, parts greased and head reassembled and armed.
- SOLAS commercial life rafts must undergo additional testing after ten years of service according IMO Resolution A.761(18). These tests include a Necessary Additional Pressure Test (NAP) and a floor seam test. At five year intervals, life rafts must also undergo a Gas Inflation Test which is an operational test of the life raft’s inflation system. Hoses are renewed at GI test intervals.
- The life raft is then reassembled and repacked according to manufacturer instructions. The firing cable for the inflation system is attached to the painter line, making the life raft fully operational.
- Container gaskets or seals are replaced and container straps are installed. Valises are sealed or laced. All labels are inspected and replaced as required.
- All test results, repairs and renewals are recorded on the service inspection report and documentation is kept on file at the our service station. Finally manufacturer certificates are issued and raft deliver to the owner ready to return to service.
Above is just a general guide and may or may not apply to your life raft. For additional question you may have please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be glad to assist. Furthermore we do invite you to attend servicing of your raft and take opportunity to get familiar with raft it self and equipment inside. Liferaft service Montenegro Liferaft service Montenegro Liferaft service Montenegro Liferaft service Montenegro Liferaft service Montenegro Liferaft service Montenegro