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Life Raft Inspection, Servicing & Supply
Dolphin Marine Group operates IACS-approved life raft service stations across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Angola. Our technicians are authorised by 10 authorised inflatable life raft manufacturers to perform the full range of SOLAS-required inspection, servicing, and recertification work – from annual service and 3-yearly light service to the complete 5-yearly overhaul. Every unit leaves our service station with a valid certificate recognised by all Classification Societies.
Life rafts are the last line of defence for anyone aboard a vessel in distress. SOLAS Regulation III/20 and Resolution MSC.81(70) set strict servicing intervals that cannot be deferred – and flag state Port State Control (PSC) inspectors verify compliance at every port call. Dolphin Marine provides the documentation, recertification, and on-board re-installation your vessel needs to pass PSC inspection without delay.
What Is the Life Raft Service?
A life raft service is a structured inspection and maintenance procedure carried out by an authorised service station to confirm that an inflatable life raft meets the operational and safety standards required by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Chapter III, Regulation 20, and IMO Resolution MSC.81(70). The service must be performed at manufacturer-approved intervals and results in reissuance of the life raft’s service certificate
Life Raft Servicing Schedule - SOLAS Requirements
Under SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 and MSC.81(70), inflatable life rafts must be serviced at an approved service station at the following intervals
| Service Type | Interval | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Inspection | Every 12 months (max 17 months with flag state approval) | Full inspection of canopy, buoyancy tubes, floor, inflation system, CO₂ cylinder weight check, survival equipment inventory, container/valise check, and recertification |
| Life Raft Inflation Cylinder Hydrostatic Testing & Recharging | Every 5 years (some manufacturers require this between 5-yearly overhauls) | Inspection, hydrostatic pressure testing, leak testing, and recharging of life raft inflation cylinders at the required service intervals. The cylinder body, valve, operating head, and connections are checked to confirm safe operation in accordance with manufacturer and applicable regulatory requirements. |
| NAP, Floor Seam & Gas Inflation Testing | Every 10 years from date of manufacture | Specialised pressure and inflation tests performed at the applicable service intervals according to the life raft’s age and manufacturer requirements. The Necessary Additional Pressure (NAP), floor seam, and gas inflation tests verify the integrity of the buoyancy chambers, floor seams, inflation system, valves, and connections under controlled conditions. |
| Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) | Replace every 2 years (most makers) OR at each annual service | Unit replaced - never serviced. Dolphin Marine supplies HAMMAR, Seasafe and other approved HRU brands |
| Rubber & Fibreglass Container Maintenance | When Required | Inspection and repair of the life raft’s rubber fabric, buoyancy chambers, seams, canopy, and inflatable components, together with maintenance of the fibreglass storage container. Damaged areas are repaired and tested to restore airtightness, structural integrity, and safe storage condition. |
Life Raft Services Provided by Dolphin Marine
Our authorised service stations cover the complete lifecycle of your vessel’s inflatable life rafts:
Annual Inspection, Service & Recertification
Our technicians perform a comprehensive annual service including full deflation and re-inflation, inspection of all structural components (canopy, buoyancy tubes, floor, lifting beckets), inventory check of all survival equipment, CO₂ cylinder weight verification, container and/or valise inspection, and reissuance of the service certificate. The completed certificate is accepted by all IACS Classification Societies and flag state authorities
Life Raft Inflation Cylinder Hydrostatic Testing & Recharging
Inspection, hydrostatic pressure testing, leak testing, and recharging of life raft inflation cylinders at the required service intervals. The cylinder body, valve, operating head, and connections are checked to confirm safe operation in accordance with manufacturer and applicable regulatory requirements.
CO₂ Cylinder Hydrostatic Pressure Testing
The inflator cylinder of an inflatable life raft is a pressure vessel subject to mandatory hydrostatic testing. Dolphin Marine performs this test at our service stations using certified testing equipment – confirming the cylinder’s pressure integrity before it is recharged, re-weighed, and reinstalled. We also maintain a stock of pre-charged cylinders for immediate exchange, minimising your vessel’s time off-hire.
Life Raft Exchange Agreements
For vessel operators calling regularly at Dolphin Marine ports, we offer exchange agreements: your due-for-service unit is swapped for an identical recertified unit from our stock at the quayside, with no waiting time. Your vessel sails with a valid in-date life raft within hours. Exchange units are pre-serviced, recertified, and ready for immediate deployment.
Supply of New Life Rafts (SOLAS Pack A & Pack B)
Dolphin Marine supplies new SOLAS-approved inflatable life rafts in both Pack A (open reversible) and Pack B (canopied) configurations. We hold stock of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 25-person capacities from our authorised manufacturer partners. Supply is available from our Alexandria, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, and Luanda branches.
• SOLAS Pack A life rafts: open reversible, required for short international voyages
• SOLAS Pack B life rafts: canopied, required for all other international voyages
• Available in rigid GRP container or soft valise packaging
• Supply with full manufacturer documentation and first service date certificate
Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) Supply & Replacement
The HRU is a critical safety component that automatically releases the life raft container from its cradle if the vessel sinks. It must be replaced – not serviced – at the manufacturer’s specified interval (typically every 2 years). Dolphin Marine stocks HAMMAR H20, Seasafe, and other Class-approved HRU brands for immediate supply and installation across all our operating regions.
Dockside Collection & Delivery
We offer 24/7 dockside collection and delivery of life rafts at all ports within our operating network. Our service coordinators can arrange collection from your vessel within hours of arrival, perform the service at our nearest certified station, and return the unit – or an exchange unit – before your vessel’s next departure.
Rubber & Fibreglass Canister Maintenance
Life raft containers and valise covers are inspected and repaired where possible during each service visit. GRP (fibreglass) canisters are checked for cracks, UV degradation, and seam integrity. Rubber components including closing straps and securing bands are replaced as required to maintain weathertight integrity
Authorised Life Raft Manufacturers
Dolphin Marine holds service station authorisation from the following life raft manufacturers. Certificates and approvals are renewed annually and are available for verification on request.
| # | Manufacturer | Life Raft Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai Youlong Rubber Products | KHA, KHZ, KHR, KHD, KHY, KHZD, KHK |
| 2 | FUJIKURA COMPOSITES Inc. World wide life raft servicing | FRN-SV, FRN-SN, FRN-SVRD |
| 3 | Seaman Safety | SEAMAN |
| 4 | Shanghai Star Rubber Products Co., Ltd. (CSM) | RAFT-A, RAFT-D, SMLR-A,SMLR-D, RAFT-SR, RAFT-DSR, STAR-SR, STAR-A, RAFT-R |
| 5 | Ausmar (DUARRY) | DUARRY |
| 6 | Shanghai Cunhong | CHF |
| 7 | LALIZAS Life saving | Cruiser, ISO RACING, ISO RACING(FR), ISO-RAFT, LEISURE RAFT, OCEANO Davit-Launched, OCEANO Open Reversible, SOLAS OCEANO Davit-Launched Self-Righting, SOLAS OCEANO Throw Over-board |
| 8 | HAINING HNF | HNF-A, HNF-CR, HNF-D, HNF-DSR, HNF-FJ, HNF-HSC, HNF-SR |
| 9 | AKANA Marine Technology | ANA-T6, ANA-T10, ANA-T15, ANA-T16, ANA-T20, ANA-T25 |
| 10 | SHANGHAI HAIAN LIFESAVING (HAF) | HAF-A, HAF-D, HAF-K, HAF-ASR, HAF-DSR |
Where We Operate - Life Raft Service Stations
Dolphin Marine life raft service stations are located at or near the following ports:
Egypt
Alexandria
Head office & primary service station – 66 El-Tawniat Smoha, Alexandria
Egypt
Suez / Port Said
Suez branch – Al Adabyia Free Zone; covers Port Said and Suez Canal traffic
UAE
Dubai / Jebel Ali
Dubai Maritime City – Workshop 6, Warehouse 325
UAE
Fujairah
Fujairah Free Zone – covers East Coast UAE and Gulf of Oman vessels
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
7946 King Fahad Branch Road, Al Bawadi District, Jeddah
Saudi Arabia
Al Khobar / Dammam
3020 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Road, Al Khobar
Oman
Muscat / Sohar
Bawsher, Muscat – covers all Omani ports
Angola
Luanda
Luanda – covers West African vessel calls
Frequently Asked Questions - Life Raft Servicing
How often does a life raft need to be serviced?
Under SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 and IMO Resolution MSC.81(70), an inflatable life raft must be serviced at an approved service station every 12 months. The maximum permitted interval is 17 months, subject to flag state approval. In addition, a full overhaul (including fabric pressure test and replacement of all time-limited equipment) is required every 5 years from the date of manufacture.
What is an annual life raft service?
An annual life raft service is a mandatory inspection carried out at an IACS-approved service station. It includes deflation and re-inflation of the raft, inspection of all structural components (canopy, tubes, floor), inventory check of survival equipment (flares, water, food, lights), weighing of the CO₂ inflation cylinder, inspection of the container or valise, and re-certification. The completed service certificate is accepted by all Classification Societies and flag state Port State Control.
What is the difference between SOLAS Pack A and Pack B life rafts?
SOLAS Pack A life rafts carry a complete emergency equipment pack for vessels operating on long international or offshore voyages. They include additional drinking water, food rations, pyrotechnics, and survival equipment.
SOLAS Pack B life rafts carry a reduced emergency equipment pack and are generally used on near-coastal, short-range, or domestic voyages where permitted by the vessel’s Flag State.
What is a life raft exchange agreement?
A life raft exchange agreement (also called a swap scheme) is an arrangement where, when your life raft is due for service, Dolphin Marine swaps it for an identical recertified unit from our stock at the quayside. Your vessel does not need to wait for its own unit to be serviced – it sails immediately with a valid in-date life raft. The exchanged unit is then serviced, recertified, and returned to our exchange pool. Exchange agreements are available at all Dolphin Marine service locations.
What is CO₂ cylinder hydrostatic testing?
The CO₂ inflator cylinder of an inflatable life raft is a pressure vessel that must be hydrostatically tested at regular intervals to confirm its structural integrity. During hydrostatic testing, the cylinder is filled with water under controlled pressure and inspected for deformation or leakage. Dolphin Marine performs hydrostatic testing at our service stations using calibrated equipment, issues a test certificate, and either recharges and reinstalls the cylinder or replaces it with a pre-tested unit from our stock.
When does a life raft need to be replaced entirely?
Most life raft manufacturers specify a maximum service life of 12 years from the date of manufacture, after which the unit must be condemned and replaced. Some makers permit 15 years with additional inspection. Dolphin Marine can advise on the specific limit for your unit based on manufacturer and serial number, and can supply a replacement new SOLAS-approved life raft from our stock or via our distribution network
Can Dolphin Marine service life rafts at the port?
- Ready to Get Started?
Need Life Raft Servicing? Contact Us.
Dolphin Marine operates IACS-approved life raft service stations across Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Angola. Contact our service coordinators for an immediate quote, exchange arrangement, or dockside collection booking.
