Servicing of liferaft
As per SOLAS Ch. III, Regulation 20 – Servicing of liferaft of inflatable type shall be carried out as per the following:
1) at intervals not exceeding 12 months, provided where in any case this is impracticable, the Administration may extend this period to 17 months
2) at an approved servicing station which is competent to service them, maintains proper servicing facilities and uses only properly trained personnel.
Extension of Service of Liferaft
An Administration which approves new and novel inflatable liferaft arrangements pursuant to SOLAS Ch. III, Regulation 4 may allow for servicing of liferaft to be extended on the following conditions:
1) The new and novel liferaft arrangement has proved to maintain the same standard, as required by testing procedure, during extended service intervals.
2) The liferaft system shall be checked on board by certified personnel at intervals not exceeding 12 months, provided where in any case this is impracticable, the Administration may extend this period to 17 months
3) Service at intervals not exceeding five years shall be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization.
An Administration which permits extension of liferaft service intervals in accordance with paragraph 8.3 shall notify the Organization of such action.
SOLAS Ch. III, Regulation 4
1) Except as provided in paragraphs 5 and 6 below, life-saving appliances and arrangements required by this chapter shall be approved by the Administration.
2) Before giving approval to life-saving appliances and arrangements, the Administration shall ensure that such life-saving appliances and arrangements:
a) are tested, to confirm that they comply with the requirements of this chapter and the Code, in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization, or
b) have successfully undergone, to the satisfaction of the Administration, tests which are substantially equivalent to those specified in those recommendations.
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3) Before giving approval to novel life-saving appliances or arrangements, the Administration shall ensure that such:
a) appliances provide safety standards at least equivalent to the requirements of this chapter and the Code and have been evaluated and tested based on the guidelines developed by the Organization or
b) arrangements have successfully undergone an engineering analysis, evaluation and approval
4) Procedures adopted by the Administration for approval shall also include the conditions whereby approval would continue or would be withdrawn.
5) Before accepting life-saving appliances and arrangements that have not been previously approved by the Administration, the Administration shall be satisfied that life-saving appliances and arrangements comply with the requirements of this chapter and the Code.
6) Life-saving appliances required by this chapter for which detailed specifications are not included in the Code shall be to the satisfaction of the Administration.
Ref: SOLAS consolidated edition
