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AZMarine Services
Liferaft Servicing & Certification
Authorized liferaft servicing in compliance with SOLAS regulations. Ensuring your rafts are ready to deploy when crew lives depend on them.
1,000+
Rafts/Year
6-150
Persons/Raft
Pack A/B
SOLAS Compliant
icon:fa-solid fa-certificate
Authorized Station
SOLAS Approved
Service Introduction
Essential Survival Equipment
Life rafts are essential survival equipment on cargo and passenger vessels, with capacities from 6 to 150 persons. Unlike lifeboats that require manual deployment, inflatable life rafts deploy rapidly in emergencies with automatic inflation systems.
- Rapid deployment with automatic inflation system
- Capacity from 6 to 150 persons
- Strict SOLAS regulatory compliance
- Mandatory annual servicing at authorized stations
SOLAS Requirements
International maritime law mandates strict standards for life raft servicing and operational readiness
Mandatory annual professional servicing at authorized shore-based service stations
Crew cannot self-service — only certified technicians allowed
Rafts must be capable of withstanding over 30 days at sea
Automatic inflation system must activate when the vessel sinks
Container must be designed to float free from a sinking vessel
Must withstand a jump from a height of 15 feet (4.5m)
Minimum 50 feet (15m) painter line required
Two independent buoyancy chambers (220+ liters each)
In-Depth Inspection
Pressure Testing & CO2 System Inspection
Rafts are inflated with compressed air for comprehensive pressure testing including Working Pressure (WP), Natural Ambient Pressure (NAP) and Gas Inflation (GI) tests to verify structural integrity. CO2 cylinder weight is measured with precision electronic scales.
- Working Pressure (WP) Test
- Natural Ambient Pressure (NAP) Test
- Gas Inflation (GI) Test
- Precision CO2 cylinder weighing
- Inflation valve and diaphragm inspection
Life Raft Construction & Features
Designed for maximum survival at sea
Dual Buoyancy Tubes
Dual-layer rubber tube construction, each layer providing independent buoyancy — if one tube fails, the other maintains full buoyancy for all persons on the raft.
Protective Canopy
Highly visible orange canopy with retro-reflective strips, observation ports, ventilation and integrated rainwater collection system for survival at sea.
Stability & Ballast System
Water ballast chambers for stability in rough seas. Waterproof floor with drainage system. Sea anchor for drift control and position maintenance.
Survival Equipment
Complete survival kit including boarding ladder, lighting system, internal/external safety lines, signal lights and emergency rations per SOLAS Pack A/B.
Servicing Process Per IMO A.761(18)
6 international standard servicing phases — Compliant with IMO Resolution A.761(18), as amended by MSC.55(66) & MSC.388(94)
1
Phase 1: Receiving & Initial Inspection
2
Phase 2: Inflation & Pressure Testing
3
Phase 3: Comprehensive Inspection
4
Phase 4: Inflation System & Gas Cylinders
5
Phase 5: Survival Equipment
6
Phase 6: Packing & Certification
Survival Equipment Inventory
Inspection & replacement per MSC.388(94) — All expired items must be replaced before next service
| Equipment | Inspection Requirement | Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|
| Flares/Rockets | Intact, dry | 3-4 years (per manufacturer) |
| Food rations | Packaging intact | 5 years |
| Fresh water | Packaging intact | 5 years |
| First aid kit | Complete, not expired | Per individual medicine |
| Water-activated light | Intact | 2-4 years |
| Batteries | Not expired | Per manufacturer |
| Anti-seasickness tablets | Complete, not expired | Per manufacturer |
| Knife, paddles, sea anchor | Intact, secure | No expiry |
| EPIRB / SART (if fitted) | Test via self-check circuit | Per specific regulations |
| Painter line | No wear, sufficient length | Annual inspection |
| HRU (Hydrostatic Release Unit) | Not expired, intact | 2 years |
Special Periodic Tests
Per Appendix 1 — MSC.55(66): In addition to pressure tests each time, special tests on a cyclical basis
| Test Type | Frequency | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Inflation (GI) | Every 5 years | Use the raft's own CO₂/N₂ cylinder to inflate (no external compressed air). Verify relief valve operates correctly. Valise raft: pull painter line. Container raft: remove then pull. |
| NAP Test | Year 10, then annually | Pressurize to twice working pressure (or 20% fabric tensile load). Block relief valve, hold for 5 minutes. If fabric cracking sounds are heard → condemn raft immediately. |
| Floor Seam (FS) | Year 10, then annually | Suspend buoyancy tubes high, person ≥82.5 kg walks/crawls around floor perimeter. Check floor seams for slippage or delamination. |
| Davit Launch Test | Every 2nd service | Launch load test for davit-launched rafts. Ensure launching system operates correctly. |
Legal Basis
International regulations on inflatable life raft servicing
| Document | Content |
|---|---|
| SOLAS III/Reg. 20.8 | Inflatable life raft servicing not exceeding 12 months at an approved station. Maximum 17-month extension in cases of force majeure. |
| IMO Res. A.761(18) | Recommendations on conditions for approval of servicing stations for inflatable life rafts (adopted 04/11/1993) |
| MSC.55(66) | Addition of NAP test & Floor Seam test for rafts from year 10 onwards (30/05/1996) |
| MSC.388(94) | Requirement to inspect all equipment supplies, replace if expiring before next service (21/11/2014) |
| ISO 18079-2:2018 | International standard for inflatable life raft servicing (companion to IMO Resolution) |
| MSC.1/Circ.1328 | Guidelines for approval of life rafts with extended service intervals — up to 30 months within the first 10 years |
Why Choose AZMarine
Vietnam's leading reputable life raft service station
Viking
Denmark
VIKING 6-150 DK/DKS Series
Zodiac / Zodiac Milpro
France
Open Sea, Coastal, Offshore Series
Fujikura
Japan
FRN-S, FRN-SN Series
Survitec / RFD
United Kingdom
Survitec Sealife, RFD Seasava Series
SOLAS Chapter III
Compliant with Chapter III on life-saving appliances
IMO Compliant
Meets International Maritime Organization standards
ISO 9001:2015
International quality management system
Authorized Station
Manufacturer-authorized service station
AZMarine serviced life rafts for our entire fleet of 12 vessels. Thorough service, on-time delivery and clear documentation.
FAQ
SOLAS requires annual servicing at an authorized service station. Additionally, life rafts must be replaced or undergo extended servicing at intervals specified by the manufacturer (typically 10-15 years).
Full service includes: inflation and pressure testing, CO2 cylinder inspection and weighing, hydrostatic release unit check, canopy and buoyancy tube inspection, review of all equipment and survival kit with replacement of expired items, professional packing and certification.
No. SOLAS requires life rafts to be serviced at approved shore-based facilities by manufacturer-certified technicians. Crew should only visually inspect container condition and HRU expiry dates.
Standard turnaround is 5-7 working days per raft. Priority service with 48-hour turnaround for emergency port calls. We recommend scheduling servicing ahead of the vessel's next inspection or survey date.
Life Rafts Need Servicing?
Contact us now for free consultation and service scheduling. Our team of authorized technicians is ready to serve at ports nationwide.