ANNUAL CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE
HOME NEWSAFTERMARKETLAYING UP ANNUAL CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE
24 Jul 2018
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Safety equipment including liferafts should be checked annually
INDUSTRY DATABASE
OCEAN SAFETY LTD
Laying-up is a time for equipment to be stored ashore, checked over and if necessary replaced.
And top priority, says marine safety equipment company Ocean Safety, should be safety equipment.
“This is just as important as checking the rig and warp and removing upholstery and sails,” says training manager, Steve Bockett. “Failure to check through the safety inventory and service items where necessary, could result in faulty equipment not being noticed until it needs to be used, with dangerous consequences.”
Servicing
He added: “Equipment like liferafts are rarely – hopefully never – used and lifejackets, while worn regularly, are again, rarely inflated, so dig them out, along with the Jonbuoys, EPIRBs, pyrotechnics, fire extinguishers and all products with a shelf life, service date or those that need batteries or replacement canisters and take them to a reputable service agent for servicing.”
And he pointed out that because the majority of owners and crews have never used their safety equipment, it’s questionable how quickly and easily they will be able to operate it.
When servicing equipment, Ocean Safety will upon request, demonstrate customers’ liferafts being inflated in one of its service stations.