Life Raft Servicing
Life Raft Service
The ability to deploy your safety equipment quickly and be confident that it will function faultlessly is vital, after all lives may at stake. An appropriate service schedule not only guards against component failure, it provides reassuring peace of mind.
Maintenance -Of your Life Raft
Other than following the suggested service schedule, your Great Circle Life Raft will require minimum maintenance.
It is recommended that canister mounting installations be inspected weekly, or as a minimum, become an important part of offshore passage preparations. In particular, canister securing lashings should be checked for tightness and that the canister is properly fitted to the cradle. If necessary, adjust the canister and lashing accordingly.
Maintain the canister by cleaning it with fresh water and if stubborn grime is an issue add a small quantity of mild washing detergent. Automotive polish can be used to restore the shine on the canister. Avoid harsh chemicals.
We recommend that life rafts packed in valise carry cases (soft packs) be visually inspected externally at least annually by the owner or skipper for signs of damage which may lead to malfunction. Nevertheless, inspection intervals should always be governed by the vessel’s usage and passage plans. A full service is recommended to be conducted within three years.
An occasional wipe down of the polyurethane case with a clean, fresh water dampened, cloth to remove any salt or grime is suggested. Do not use harsh cleaning chemicals.
Scheduled a Life Raft Service
Up to 3 Year Extended Service Interval
Four to twelve-person Great Circle Life Rafts are vacuum sealed in rugged plastic envelopes for extra protection and extended servicing intervals. Since life rafts contain many degradable components, and to ensure dependable performance we recommend the following minimum service schedule:
1st service – within 3 years
2nd service – within 3 years of first service
3rd service – within 3 years of second service
4th and subsequent service intervals – not exceeding one year
Some state marine authorities and boating organisations require life rafts for commercial vessels under survey requirements and yachts engaged in racing to be serviced annually, bi-annually or at specified regular intervals. Great Circle Life Rafts will be pleased to advise you of your servicing requirements in these instances.
We recommend the following service schedule for life rafts on commercial vessels operating under NSCV Survey requirements:
1st service – within 2 years
2nd service – within 2 years of first service
3rd service – within 2 years of second service
4th and subsequent service intervals – not exceeding one year
Vessels operating under AMSA SOLAS requirements should have their life rafts serviced annually.
Servicing of Great Circle Oceanmaster® and Coastmaster® Life Rafts should be carried out by an authorised Great Circle Life Raft service facility. Call us at Great Circle on 1300 306 381 (Australia wide) and we will be pleased to assist you further.
Life Raft Service charges
Life Raft Service Charges | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
4 person | $345.00 | |||
6 person | $360.00 | |||
8 person | $375.00 | |||
10 person | $395.00 | |||
12 person | $410.00 | |||
15 person | $445.00 | |||
16 person | $475.00 | |||
20 person | $485.00 | |||
25 person | $510.00 | |||
50 person | $625.00 | |||
65 person | $695.00 | |||
*Prices include GST. Service fee only, excludes expired components (e.g. food & water rations, flares etc.), parts and cylinder recharge/test when required at specified service intervals. Our priority at all times is to provide life raft service as promptly and cost effectively as possible. | ||||
Service Enquiry
Please call us at Great Circle on: 1300 306 381 (Australia wide), email to: sales@greatcircleliferafts.com.au or complete and return the online form below and we will be pleased to assist you further.
Transportation of Your Life Raft to a Service Centre
It is recommended that a canister or valise packed life raft be transported in a horizontal position. Protective wrapping or placing the life raft in a transportation container is recommended. This action not only protects the life raft but the painter line cannot be inadvertently withdrawn from the life raft’s case. Do not place any other equipment on the top of the canister or valise or its packaging.
Life rafts are classed as Dangerous Goods when being transported by commercial carriers. They fall under the following shipping criteria:
PROPER SHIPPING NAME: Life Saving Appliances, Self Inflating | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Contents | Classification | UN Number | Subsidiary risk | Packing Group | Marine pollutant |
Marine Life Raft | 9 | 2990 | NIL | N/A | NO |
Service information
The identification label is located on the canister top or on the side of the valise case, and indicates life raft details including the date of the next recommended service inspection. This information can also be found on the life raft’s Certificate of Service. This document accompanied the life raft.
Life Raft Service Request
Please complete the form below detailing your request and a member of our support staff will respond as soon as possible.