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Life raft Inspections

Different Types of Life raft Inspections: A Complete Guide

A liferaft is the last line of defence when a vessel must be abandoned, which is exactly why international regulations treat its inspection and servicing so seriously. A raft that looks fine in its canister can still fail at the moment it’s needed most if it hasn’t been checked, tested and serviced on schedule. For ship owners, masters and safety officers, understanding the different types of liferaft inspections isn’t just a compliance exercise — it’s a matter of crew survival.

In this guide, we break down every stage of liferaft inspection, from the checks your crew can carry out on deck to the detailed servicing that only an approved life-saving equipment service station is authorised to perform.

Why Liferaft Inspections Matter

Liferafts are inflatable, and every component — from the buoyancy tubes and canopy to the CO2 inflation system and survival equipment pack — degrades over time due to UV exposure, salt air, temperature cycling and general wear. The SOLAS Convention for LSA inspections sets out clear intervals and standards precisely because an unmaintained raft can fail to inflate, leak air, or be missing critical survival gear during an actual emergency. Regular inspection is what keeps a raft’s Safety Certificate valid and, more importantly, keeps it reliable.

1. Routine Visual Inspections (Onboard Checks)

The first and most frequent layer of inspection happens onboard, carried out by the ship’s crew rather than a certified technician. These checks don’t involve opening the raft canister but are essential for catching early warning signs.

• Monthly checks: Under SOLAS III/20, liferafts, launching arrangements and stowage brackets must be visually inspected monthly to confirm the raft is properly secured, the container shows no visible damage or corrosion, and the painter line and hydrostatic release unit (HRU) are correctly attached.
• Pre-departure checks: Officers typically confirm the raft’s service due date, cradle security and accessibility as part of routine safety rounds before sailing.
• Weather and lashing checks: After heavy weather, crew should re-inspect lashings, cradles and the hydrostatic release unit for signs of shifting or damage.

These onboard checks don’t replace professional servicing, but they’re the first line of defence in catching a problem before it becomes a safety failure.

2. Annual Service (Shore-Based Inspection)

SOLAS requires every liferaft to undergo a full annual service at intervals not exceeding 12 months, carried out only by a manufacturer-approved service station. This is one of the most detailed types of liferaft inspections and typically includes:

• Removing the raft from its container and fully inflating it in a controlled environment
• Checking buoyancy tubes, canopy, seams and valves for leaks, tears or degradation
• Testing the automatic and manual inflation systems, including the CO2/CO2-nitrogen gas cylinder
• Verifying the weight and pressure of the gas cylinder
• Inspecting and replacing expired items in the survival equipment pack (flares, first-aid kit, food rations, water, etc.)
• Checking the hydrostatic release unit (HRU) for its expiry date and function
• Repacking the raft into its container and re-sealing it with a new service tag

Our detailed Liferaft Servicing guide covers exactly what happens during this process and why it’s carried out only at an approved station.

3. Periodic (Overhaul) Inspection

In addition to the annual service, liferafts are subject to a more extensive periodic inspection or overhaul, generally required once the raft reaches a certain age (commonly after 10 years, depending on manufacturer specification). This deeper inspection typically includes:

• A full hydrostatic (pressure) test of the buoyancy chambers to check material strength and seam integrity
• Detailed fabric and coating assessment for UV degradation and fatigue
• Replacement of aging components such as topping-up lines, righting straps and retro-reflective tape
• Verification against the original type-approval and manufacturer’s technical bulletins

This overhaul is more invasive than the standard annual service and is designed to confirm the raft remains structurally fit for continued use as it ages.

4. Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) Inspection

The HRU is a small but critical device that automatically releases a liferaft from its cradle if the vessel sinks, allowing the raft to float free and inflate. HRUs have their own inspection and replacement cycle — typically every 2 years for hydrostatic units under SOLAS/MED requirements — independent of the raft’s own service schedule. During inspection, technicians check for:

• The manufacture and expiry date stamped on the unit
• Correct mechanical connection to the painter line and cradle
• Absence of corrosion, cracking or water ingress in the housing

5. Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) Inspections

Some manufacturers now offer an IMO-recognised Condition-Based Maintenance scheme as an alternative to fixed annual servicing. Rather than a strict 12-month cycle, rafts enrolled in CBM are assessed against defined performance and condition criteria, which can extend service intervals (commonly up to 30 months) provided the raft continues to meet all specified conditions. This approach uses:

• More detailed data logging on each raft’s service history
• Stricter onboard visual inspection requirements by the crew
• Manufacturer-approved condition checklists applied at every service

CBM isn’t available for every raft model, and it requires enrolment through the manufacturer, but it’s becoming increasingly common on modern fleets looking to optimise maintenance planning without compromising safety.

6. Post-Use and Post-Incident Inspection

Any liferaft that has been deployed, inflated, or exposed to a suspected impact, fire, or extreme weather event must undergo an immediate post-use inspection, regardless of when its last scheduled service occurred. This inspection assesses:

• Damage to the fabric, canopy or inflation system from deployment or exposure
• Consumption or contamination of survival equipment
• Whether the raft can be re-serviced and re-certified, or must be decommissioned

Choosing an Approved Service Station

Whichever type of inspection is due, SOLAS and flag-state regulations require that servicing beyond routine onboard checks be carried out only at a manufacturer-approved liferaft service station with certified technicians, correct testing equipment and traceable spare parts. Using an unapproved provider can invalidate your raft’s Safety Certificate and put your Port State Control compliance at risk.

Eon Marine Services is an ISO 9001:2015 certified provider offering annual servicing, periodic overhaul, HRU inspection and full LSA compliance support for vessels calling at major ports. Browse our range of life-saving appliances or get in touch with our team to schedule your next liferaft inspection.

Final Thoughts

Liferaft inspections aren’t a single event — they’re a layered system of onboard checks, annual servicing, periodic overhauls, HRU verification and, increasingly, condition-based maintenance. Each layer exists to catch a different type of failure before it can matter in an emergency. Staying on top of every inspection type, and working only with approved service providers, is what keeps your SOLAS certification valid and your crew genuinely protected.

For more on how liferafts fit into the wider LSA compliance picture, read our related post on the SOLAS Convention for LSA Inspections, or follow Eon Marine on LinkedIn for regular updates on marine safety compliance, servicing tips and industry news.