Marine safety service
Liferaft Servicing & Inspection
Annual liferaft servicing at approved servicing stations, including pressure tests, equipment renewal, HRU replacement and certificates under SOLAS III/20.8.
Overview
Liferaft servicing and inspection
Liferaft servicing is the periodic inspection, testing and repacking of inflatable liferafts at an approved servicing station, so that each raft inflates correctly, holds pressure and carries complete, in-date equipment. Throw-overboard and davit-launched liferafts provide survival craft capacity on almost every SOLAS ship, and on many cargo ships they are what the crew will use if the lifeboat cannot be reached or launched.
A liferaft cannot be serviced on deck: it is landed ashore, inflated, tested and repacked at the station. vslSafety coordinates collection, servicing and return within the port stay, or exchange rafts where time is short.
Regulatory requirements and who can do the work
- SOLAS regulation III/20.8 requires every inflatable liferaft to be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months, at an approved servicing station that is competent to service them, maintains proper facilities and uses properly trained personnel. Where this is impracticable, the Administration may extend the period to 17 months.
- SOLAS regulation III/20.8.3 allows Administrations approving new and novel liferaft arrangements to permit extended service intervals. The related IMO guidelines, MSC.1/Circ.1328, cover liferafts approved for service intervals not exceeding 30 months; such rafts must still be checked on board by certified personnel.
- SOLAS regulation III/20.9 requires hydrostatic release units, other than disposable units, to be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months (extendable to 17 months) at a competent servicing station.
- IMO resolution A.761(18), as amended by MSC.55(66) and MSC.388(94), sets conditions for approving servicing stations, including maker accreditation, trained staff and the test programme.
In practice, the station must be accredited by the raft manufacturer and approved or recognised by the flag Administration.
Servicing and test intervals
| Item | Requirement | Interval | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflatable liferaft | Service at approved station | Not exceeding 12 months (17 months if extended by the Administration) | SOLAS III/20.8.1 |
| Extended service interval liferaft | Service at maker-approved station; periodic on-board checks by certified personnel | Up to 30 months where approved | SOLAS III/20.8.3; MSC.1/Circ.1328 |
| Hydrostatic release unit (serviceable type) | Service at competent station | Not exceeding 12 months (17 if extended) | SOLAS III/20.9 |
| Disposable HRU | Replace by marked expiry date | As marked by maker | Maker’s instructions |
| Working pressure test | Inflation with air and pressure hold | Each service in years 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 | A.761(18) as amended |
| Gas inflation test | Inflation using the raft’s own gas cylinder | 5th and 10th year, then at intervals in the maker’s programme | A.761(18) as amended |
| NAP and floor seam tests | Necessary additional pressure and floor seam strength | Floor seam from year 10; NAP yearly from year 11 | A.761(18) as amended |
| Davit-launched liferaft hook | Thorough examination and test; overhaul with 1.1 load test | Annual; overhaul at least every 5 years | SOLAS III/20.11.3; MSC.402(96) |
What the service includes
- Collection, transport and external examination of the container, painter and data plate
- Inflation and pressure testing as required for the raft’s age, including NAP and floor seam tests for older rafts
- Examination of buoyancy tubes, floor, canopy, boarding ladder, lights and seams, with repairs to the maker’s standard
- Weighing or checking of CO2 and nitrogen inflation cylinders and inspection of valves and operating heads
- Renewal of expired pack items, including pyrotechnics, rations, water, medical kit and batteries, according to the pack (SOLAS A, SOLAS B or other)
- Repacking, sealing, weighing and labelling with the next service due date
- Replacement or servicing of the hydrostatic release unit and weak link
- Return, reinstallation in the cradle and a check of the float-free arrangement
Liferaft types commonly serviced
Stations handle throw-overboard rafts in canisters and valises, davit-launched rafts, self-righting and reversible rafts and rafts forming part of a marine evacuation system. Common manufacturers include Viking, Survitec (RFD, Zodiac, DSB, Crewsaver), Hansen Protection, Eurovinil, Wuxi Hi-Sea and several Chinese and Japanese makers.
Common defects and PSC deficiencies
- Service certificate or label out of date, or servicing done by a station not approved for the make
- Hydrostatic release unit expired, incorrectly fitted, or painter not attached through the weak link
- Lashings over-painted, seized or rigged so the raft cannot float free
- Container damaged, drain plugs missing or water ingress
- Davit-launched raft hook or winch without a valid annual examination
SOLAS chapter III items accounted for 9.3% of all Paris MoU deficiencies in 2024.
Certificates and documents you receive
Each raft is returned with a service certificate stating the station, the tests performed, items replaced and the next service date, usually with the station’s approval reference. You will also receive HRU certificates or replacement records, a list of pack items and their expiry dates, and a report of any defects found or rafts condemned. Keep the certificates with the safety equipment records for the annual survey.
How to prepare the vessel
Liferafts are best sent ashore early in the port call. Standard servicing often takes one or two working days, and longer if repairs, NAP tests or spare parts are needed. Where the stay is short, exchange rafts of the same make, capacity and pack can be supplied, subject to flag acceptance. Check crane access for landing the canisters and any customs formalities. Combining this with EPIRB and SART servicing and inflatable lifejacket servicing can save a separate attendance.
Information needed for a quotation
- Vessel name, IMO number and flag
- Port, berth or anchorage, ETA and ETD
- Number of rafts, maker, model, capacity and pack type
- Serial numbers and manufacturing dates (these determine the tests due)
- Throw-overboard or davit-launched, and HRU make and expiry dates
- Last service date and copy of the last service certificates
- Whether exchange or replacement rafts may be needed
vslSafety coordinates a suitable approved station at or near the vessel’s port; final acceptance of the servicing rests with flag, class and the attending surveyor.
Frequently asked questions
How often must liferafts be serviced?
SOLAS regulation III/20.8 requires inflatable liferafts to be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months at an approved servicing station. If this is impracticable, the flag Administration may extend the interval to 17 months. Rafts approved for extended service intervals may be serviced at up to 30 months under MSC.1/Circ.1328, but only if the flag accepts the arrangement and the on-board checks are carried out.
Can a liferaft be serviced on board?
Routine servicing requires the raft to be inflated, tested and repacked in a controlled environment, so it is carried out at the approved station ashore. Crew should check the container, lashings, HRU and painter during monthly inspections, but should not open the canister. Rafts approved for extended service intervals are checked on board by certified personnel between full services.
What is a NAP test on a liferaft?
The necessary additional pressure (NAP) test checks that the raft’s buoyancy tubes and seams can withstand pressure above normal working pressure. Under resolution A.761(18) as amended, it is carried out at every service from the eleventh year of the raft’s life, or earlier if visual inspection suggests it is necessary. A floor seam strength test is added from the tenth year.
How often should a hydrostatic release unit be replaced?
Serviceable HRUs must be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months under SOLAS regulation III/20.9. Most ships now use disposable units, which are not serviced but replaced by the expiry date marked on them. The HRU, weak link and painter arrangement should be checked each time the raft is reinstalled, because an incorrectly rigged painter can stop the raft floating free or inflating if the ship sinks.
Can I get a replacement liferaft if servicing takes too long?
Yes, many stations keep exchange rafts. The replacement should match the approved capacity, type and equipment pack, and the ship’s records and certificates must reflect the serial numbers actually on board. Check with the flag Administration or class if the exchange raft is from a different maker than originally approved for the ship.
