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• SOLAS Ch. III Reg.20.8.1 requires every inflatable liferaft, inflatable lifejacket, and marine evacuation system shall be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months, provided where in any case this is impracticable, the Administration may extend this period to 17 months.

• However SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 20.8.3 allows administration for extended service intervals on certain conditions.

• Mauritius administration has issued merchant shipping notice ref. 3 of 2017 informing about the approval of use of inflatable life rafts subjected to extended service.

• The Viking Life raft type S30 has been approved by the Administration for extended service intervals of not exceeding 30 months in accordance with SOLAS Ch. III Reg.20.8.3

• Following are the different types of Viking Life raft S30 that are approved to be used onboard Mauritian Flagged Vessels.

1. Throw overboard liferafts:

6 DK+S30, 8 DK+S30, 10 DK+S30, 12 DK+S30, 16 DK+S30, 20 DK+S30 and 25 DK+S30

2. Throw overboard self-righting liferafts:

12 DKS S30, 25 DKS S30, 39 DKS S30, 50 DKS S30, 100 DKS S30 and 150 DKS S30

3. Davit launched liferafts:

12 DKF+S30, 16 DKF+S30, 20 DKF+S30, 25 DKF+S30 and 35 DKF+S30

4. Davit launched self-righting liferafts:

25 DKFS S30 and 39 DKFS S30

5. Open reversible liferafts:

12 DKR+S30, 25 DKR+S30, 50 DKR+S30, 100 DKR+S30 and 150 DKR+S30

• In order to fulfill the maintenance and inspection periods, following conditions are to be complied with :

1. The service period for the Viking Liferaft Type S30 shall not exceed 30 months provided that the hermetic seal has NOT been compromised.

2. The Liferaft shall be visually and technically inspected for the verification of the tight seal, humidity level and possible leaks of CO2. This can be carried out on-board the ship by qualified persons who have been adequately trained and certified by the life-raft manufacturer and according to instructions for on-board inspections as laid out by Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S, with intervals of not more than 12 months.

3. As long as the hermetic seal has not been compromised, the 30 months’ service intervals will apply for the first 10 years of their service lives. Regular service intervals according to SOLAS regulation III/20.8.1.1 shall be followed when the age of the life-raft exceeds 10 years of age. All readings shall be recorded and kept on-board together with the life-raft certificate for documentation and inspection purposes. If the periodic on-board inspection reveals a loss of gas, the life-raft should undergo a full service immediately. If excess humidity is present or the seal verification reveals loss of hermetic seal for any reason, the life-raft shall be serviced and repacked within 3 months from inspection, or 30 months from repacking whichever comes first.

4. A record book of inspection shall be kept on board, in order to provide evidence of the monitoring of the humidity levels and possible leaks of CO₂ of all liferafts of this type, by a qualified person.

5. All personnel whether onboard or ashore who will be required to conduct the annual inspection and/ or servicing shall be duly trained and certified by the “Viking Life Saving Equipment A/S Company”.

6. The Company/Ship Safety Management System is amended accordingly.

• Ship Owners and managers are advised to take note of above.

Enclosure:

1. Mauritius merchant shipping notice ref. 3 of 2017.          

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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