Liferaft Servicing
Equipment Maintenance

Commercial
Liferafts

It is important for all rafts to be serviced by trained personnel. This ensures the latest updates and modifications are added to your liferaft. SOLAS Liferafts are required to be serviced annually.

Upgrades can be usful. For example you could be a leisure user who now wishes to get the vessel commercial MCA Coded. We can help with this.

Commercial Liferaft Servicing

Commercial Liferaft servicing means either a raft on coded MCA vessel or a SOLAS liferaft. We organise servicing for the following SOLAS liferafts:

Lalizas SOLAS Throw over
Lalizas SOLAS Davit launch
Lalizas SOLAS Open Reversible
HAF SOLAS - All makes
Youlong
Arimar
Duarry - All makes
Zodiac
RFD

All commercial SOLAS Liferafts require servicing annually. The cylinder needs attention every 5 years. We guarantee to service any commercial SOLAS liferaft within 7 days as a maximum. If for any reason that can't be completed, we will issue a free hire raft to the same specification as being serviced.

The raft is pressure tested and a number of checks are completed to ensure the raft complies. The internal pack is checked and items changed where necessary.

The raft is given a full certificate for another year with the manufacturer's stamp.

MCA Coded Vessel Servicing

Coded vessels are required to have their rafts serviced annually or three years depending on the type of raft and the method packed. All valise liferafts are to be serviced annually, whether ORC or ISO 9650-1 spec. ISO 9650-1 Group A liferafts in containers are allowed to be serviced every three years. We service / organise servicing for the following makes:

Seacurity
Waypoint
AWN
Plastimo
Lalizas
Sea-Air
Avon
Lifeguard
Seago
Bombard
Zodiac

All commercial ISO liferafts in containers can now be serviced every three years. Typically the cylinder needs attention every 10 years. We guarantee to service any coded vessels equipment within 10 days as a maximum. If for any reason that can't be completed, we will issue a free hire raft to the same specification as being serviced.

It is important that the correct, in-date equipment is placed in the raft. There are far too many cheap plastic items put into liferafts that should the need arise, probably wouldn't work. We use only high specification parts. All our batteries are heavy duty known branded batteries, all our LED torches are 'tough' torches and our TPA's are aluminium not plastic!

Technical
Information

Whether an ISO raft or a SOLAS raft, the servicing is ultimately the same. The SOLAS rafts have a slightly more structured service shedule set out by the IMO where as the ISO rafts are purely set out by the manufacturer. The service consists of three parts. Liferaft service, pack change and re-pack/certification. During the service the following is inspected:

Service

Seams
Water pockets
Floor
Arch / canopy
Lights
Safety lines
Liferaft pressure Test
Pressure valves
Cylinder weight
Op head reset with new 'O' Rings where required

Pack change
(Expired items only)

Flares (various)
Sea sick pills
Water
Torch batteries and spares
Food
Pump
Paddles
Radar reflector (checked)
First aid kit
Lights
Torch & batteries
Glue / repair kits

Re-pack /
Certification

Deflate
Attach cylinder
Fold
Arm the raft
Re-pack
Seal / band the raft
Certificate
Workshop sheet

Leisure
Liferafts

Whether used for commercial operations, crusing or long/short distance racing, it is important to make sure your raft is serviced to the highest standard, using genuine parts

ORC Liferaft Servicing

ORC type of Liferaft has been around for many years. These are typically the lower end of the specification on rafts and tend to be used more for the private boater and inshore sailing. This is normally extended to cross channel and trips of similar distance. The materials they are made of are the same as the ISO or SOLAS rafts in some cases, but not made to an ISO specification. This means they tend not to have inflatable boarding ramps, lights or thermal floors. They also have less equipment inside. The advantage of these liferafts are they are normally lighter and more compact which makes them great for the short distance cruiser.

Examples of ORC rafts are the likes of Plastimo Cruiser rafts or Lalizas Leisure liferafts. These can still be purchased from us and are widely available as a cost effective option. These rafts are always being updated with the latest valves and fittings.

ORC rafts typically come with serveral pack types.

Standard
RORC
RORC +
E Pack (being phased out)
SOLAS B packs (typically used for older MCA coded vessels)

Liferaft
Upgrades & Accessories

There are various liferaft accessories and upgrades that are available. These range from upgrading the pack inside the raft to adding a grab bag for longer distance cruises or upgrading for Atlantic races.

Customers tend to add various items such as reading glasses, copies of official documents and medications.

ISO Liferaft Upgrades

Increase to a more than 24hr pack - This containers items such as food, water more flares and first aid kits.
Add personal items such as Reading Glasses and Passport photocopies
Electronic equipment - These range from PLB's (Personal Locating Beacon), SARTs, LED Flare and VHF radio

ORC Liferaft Upgrades

Upgrade from Standard pack to ORC - This adds flares, sea sick pills, torch and spare batteries
Upgrade from ORC to ORC Plus - This, in addition to the ORC spec adds rocket flares and water
Upgrade from ORC Plus to E Pack - This adds food, water and a small First Aid kit
Upgrade from E Pack to SOLAS B - This adds an inflatable radar reflector, smoke flares, TPA's and first aid kit.

General additions

Universal Cradle - Adjustable, fitting most rafts from 4-12 Person. These can be deck mounted or pushpit mounted
Liferaft retaining strap - This type of strap can be used in conjuntion with an HRU (Hydrostatic Release Unit)
Liferaft container colour - We now offer almost any colour of liferaft container. This is an extra cost but has proved popular.
Change to a valise
Change to a container

If there any other accessories you would like to discuss please call the workshop on 023 8140 1112

Liferaft Servicing
Equipment Maintenance

SOLAS Commercial Servicing

MCA Coded Boat Servicing

Technical Info

ISO / ORC Servicing

Upgrades & Accessories

Commercial
Liferafts

Commercial Liferaft Servicing

MCA Coded Vessel Servicing