Valise Liferaft Service Intervals

[savageseadog]

I've been told that valise types are now mandatory 1 year intervals, is that correct?
What if the raft was tested under the old three year interval and is still in date from that date?

 

[prv]

I believe this is the MCA's rule for coded charter boats, and has been for some time.

If your boat's not chartered then the manufacturer's interval is probably three years, assuming the raft is vacuum packed inside the valise.

Pete

 

[Georgio]

ISAF racing regs and commercial boats with a valise require a 1 year service but if for personal use this does not apply, in fact for personal use you don't even need to carry one.

 

[Martin_J]

mandatory for what? are you planning on racing and have to comply with ISAF requirements?
FWIW, ISAF require a yearly 'check' but this is not a full unwrap and repack service. I believe the actual check requirements have yet to be defined but it appears to be a visual check for damage.

 

[prv]

FWIW, ISAF require a yearly 'check' but this is not a full unwrap and repack service. I believe the actual check requirements have yet to be defined but it appears to be a visual check for damage.

Now that makes sense. Unlike the MCA's rule, which seems unnecessarily harsh in many cases where the valise raft is properly stowed. If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated locker, then the raft is better protected than a canister on deck, and yet they make you pay for it to be serviced three times as often.

Pete

 

[savageseadog]

mandatory for what? are you planning on racing and have to comply with ISAF requirements?.............

Racing. It's for the Fastnet but I don't know which exact set of rules they are enforcing. other than RORC's own perhaps.

 

[Martin_J]

ISAF category 2 then.... so you will need a certificate proving it has been 'checked' within the twelve months preceding the race.

 

[Martin_J]

I assume that you will be similarly compliant for any qualifying races since these are all category 3 plus liferafts (which also fall within the same required check interval).

 

[Martin_J]

Now that makes sense. Unlike the MCA's rule, which seems unnecessarily harsh in many cases where the valise raft is properly stowed. If you're lucky enough to have a dedicated locker, then the raft is better protected than a canister on deck, and yet they make you pay for it to be serviced three times as often.

Pete

Seems harsh for me as well...having a valise raft stowed in a dedicated liferaft locker where it is completely protected and undisturbed.

 

[Martin_J]

The interesting words (if you have an ISO 9650 Valise packed liferaft) are..
A liferaft built to ISO 9650 Part 1 Type Group A packed in a valise shall be inspected annually by an approved
manufacturer’s agent and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions but NOT less frequently
than every three years.

Note the words 'inspected anually'.. subtle difference to 'serviced annually'.

 

[Boatman]

The only place I know of mandatory annual servicing not inspection is for Commercial passanger carrying vessels and Spanish registered yatchs travelling more than 60nm offshore

 

[Martin_J]

ISAF do however have the text below as a 'Guidance note and recommendation' so I guess it is a case of watch this space and see what happens to their rules next year...

IMPORTANT NOTICE Recent evidence has shown that packaged liferafts are vulnerable to serious damage
when dropped (eg from a boat onto a marina pontoon) or when subjected to the weight of a crew member or
heavy object (eg an anchor). Damage can be caused internally by the weight of the heavy steel CO2 bottle
abrading or splitting neighbouring layers of buoyancy tube material. ISAF has instituted an investigation into
this effect and as an interim measure requires that every valise-packed liferaft shall have an annual certificate
of servicing. A liferaft should be taken for servicing if there is any sign of damage or deterioration (including on
the underside of the pack). Persons in charge should insist on great care in handling liferafts and apply the
rules NO STEP and DO NOT DROP UNLESS LAUNCHING INTO THE SEA.

 

[Martin_J]

and US sailing have added a prescription to allow US run races to comply with the following instead..

11 May 2012 ISAF Offshore Special Regulations
The US Sailing Board approved US Prescription to clear an ambiguity in the 2012-2013 version of ISAF Offshore Special Regulation 4.20.5 e) which calls for an annual inspection by an approved manufacturer's agent of valise packed liferafts. “Inspection” is not a defined process for life raft certification. Racers are being forced to do an early servicing to comply.

"US SAILING prescribes: A life raft built to ISO 9650 Type 1 Group A and packed in a valise shall be serviced in accordance with its manufacturer’s recommendations at least as frequently as is recommended by the manufacturer. US SAILING reminds persons in charge of their responsibilities under OSR 1.02.1 and OSR 1.02.2 and notes that there have been reports that the integrity of valise-packed life rafts can be compromised by mishandling, poor storage, and other factors, and that such conditions may indicate a need for servicing more frequently than is recommended by manufacturers."

This replaces the ISAF version printed below. Emphasis added

A liferaft built to ISO 9650 Part 1 Type Group A packed in a valise shall be inspected annually by an approved manufacturer’s agent and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions but NOT less frequently than every three years.