Services
Everything that has to work on the worst day at sea.
One team for the whole safety inventory means one visit instead of five, one set of certificates in the same format, and one place to see what is coming due. Pick a discipline for the details, or scroll down for the intervals at a glance.
01Liferafts & HRUsLiferaft servicing at an approved service station, HRU testing and replacement, and exchange rafts arranged when the ship cannot wait.
02Lifeboats & davits
03Lifejackets & immersion suits
04Fixed fire-fighting systems
05PFOS-free foamPeriodic foam testing, and the full switch to PFOS-free foam: removal, cleaning, refilling and the documents the surveyor will ask for.
06Extinguishers & fire equipment
07Fire detection & alarm
08Breathing apparatus & EEBD
09Gas detection & calibration
10Load testing and lifting appliancesProof load tests with water bags and certified weights for davits, cranes, gangways and lifting points, with thorough examinations and certificates.
11Pilot ladders
12Medical oxygen
13ODME, UTI & instrumentsCalibration checks and service of ODME and 15 ppm bilge alarms, UTI and sounding tapes, thermal cameras, pressure gauges and other measuring instruments.
14Drug & alcohol testing
15Radio, GMDSS & navigationEPIRB and SART checks, GMDSS handheld radios, AIS annual tests, magnetic compass adjustment and preparation for the annual radio survey.
16Underwater & hullIn-water surveys with video for class and flag, hull cleaning, propeller polishing and small underwater repairs, coordinated while the ship is in port.
17Fall protection
18Crew trainingPractical sessions on board while our technicians are there anyway: breathing apparatus, gas detectors, lifeboat release gear and enclosed space entry.+Not on the list?Tell us what is on board. If we cannot do it, we will say so.Intervals at a glance
What is due, and how often
The usual intervals under the IMO instruments. Your flag, class or the maker can ask for more, and we always check before we plan a visit.
| Service | Item | Interval | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liferafts & HRUs | Inflatable liferaft service | 12 months; the flag may allow up to 17 months where servicing is impracticable | SOLAS III/20.8.1 |
| Extended-service-interval liferafts (accepted by the flag) | Service up to every 30 months in the first 10 years, plus an annual on-board inspection by maker-certified staff | SOLAS III/20.8.3, MSC.1/Circ.1328 | |
| Hydrostatic release unit, serviceable type | 12 months; the flag may allow up to 17 months | SOLAS III/20.9 | |
| Disposable HRU | Replace by the expiry date marked on the unit | LSA Code 4.1.6.3.8, maker | |
| Gas inflation test | Every 5 years | Res. A.761(18) | |
| NAP and floor seam tests | At every service once the raft is more than 10 years old | Res. A.761(18) as amended | |
| Lifeboats & davits | Thorough examination and operational test | Every year, at the annual survey | SOLAS III/20.11, MSC.402(96) |
| Release gear overhaul and test at 1.1 times the fully loaded boat | 5 years, with a surveyor attending | SOLAS III/20.11.2, MSC.402(96), MSC.1/Circ.1618 | |
| Winch dynamic brake test with the empty boat | Every year | SOLAS III/20.11.1 | |
| Winch brake proof-load test (1.1 times boat, full complement and equipment) | 5 years | SOLAS III/20.11.1, MSC.402(96) | |
| Falls renewed | 5 years, or earlier when deteriorated | SOLAS III/20.4 | |
| Lifejackets & immersion suits | Inflatable lifejackets | 12 months | SOLAS III/20.8 |
| Immersion suit air-pressure test | 3 years, more often for suits over 10 years old | MSC/Circ.1114 | |
| Monthly inspection of suits by the crew | Monthly | MSC/Circ.1047 | |
| Pyrotechnics and lifebuoy lights | By the expiry date | LSA Code, maker | |
| Fixed fire-fighting systems | Annual inspection | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1432 (CO₂: MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1) |
| CO₂ content check (refill below 90 %) and blow-through of the piping | Every 2 years ± 3 months on passenger ships; at each intermediate, periodical or renewal survey on cargo ships | MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 | |
| Internal inspection of CO₂ control valves | 5 years | MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 | |
| Hydrostatic test of high-pressure CO₂ cylinders | At least 10 % (pilot cylinders included) at 10 years; all cylinders by the 20th year and every 10 years after | MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 | |
| Flexible hoses | Renewed at the maker's interval, at most every 10 years | MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 | |
| Foam concentrate analysis | First within 3 years of supply, then every year | MSC.1/Circ.1312, MSC/Circ.670 | |
| PFOS-free foam | PFOS-containing foam removed (existing ships) | By the first survey on or after 1 January 2026 | SOLAS II-2, Res. MSC.532(107) |
| Proof that the foam is PFOS-free (declaration or lab report) | New ships at delivery; existing ships by the first survey on or after 1 January 2026 | SOLAS II-2/10.11, MSC.1/Circ.1694 | |
| Low-expansion foam concentrate analysis | First within 3 years of supply to the ship, then every year | MSC.1/Circ.1312 | |
| High-expansion foam concentrate analysis | First after 3 years, then every year | MSC/Circ.670 | |
| Extinguishers & fire equipment | Inspection of portable extinguishers | 12 months | Res. A.951(23), MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| Discharge and recharge | As the maker and flag require | Res. A.951(23) | |
| Hydrostatic test of shells | 10 years, or as the flag requires | Res. A.951(23) | |
| Fire detection & alarm | Testing of fire detection and alarm systems | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1432, FSS Code ch. 9 |
| Sample extraction smoke detection | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1432, FSS Code ch. 10 | |
| Breathing apparatus & EEBD | SCBA and EEBD inspection | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1432 |
| Breathing-air quality test | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1432, EN 12021 | |
| Cylinder hydrostatic test | 5 years, or as the flag and maker require | Cylinder standard, flag | |
| Gas detection & calibration | Portable detector calibration | As the maker specifies, usually every 6 months or more often | Maker, MSC.1/Circ.1561 |
| Bump test by the crew | Before each use or each day's use, as the maker specifies | Maker, company SMS | |
| Enclosed space entry and rescue drill, using the instruments | At least every 2 months | SOLAS III/19 | |
| Fixed gas detection systems | As the maker and class require; many makers ask for checks every few months and calibration at least once a year | Maker, class | |
| Load testing | Thorough examination of lifting appliances | 12 months | ILO C152, class rules |
| Proof load test of lifting appliances | 5 years, and after repairs | ILO C152, class rules | |
| Proof-load brake test of lifeboat davit winches | 5 years | SOLAS III/20.11.1, MSC.402(96) | |
| Accommodation ladders and gangways | Annual examination, periodic load test | SOLAS II-1/3-9, MSC.1/Circ.1331 | |
| Pilot ladders | Inspection by a responsible officer (from 2028) | Before and after each use, plus a detailed inspection every 3 months | MSC.576(110) |
| Pilot ladders and manropes replaced, spares included (from 2028) | 36 months from manufacture or 30 months in service, whichever comes first | SOLAS V/23, MSC.576(110) | |
| Until 2028 | Regular inspection; replace when worn or damaged; keep the maker's certificate and the in-service and repair record | SOLAS V/23 (2012), Res. A.1045(27) | |
| Medical oxygen | Medical oxygen set inspection | 12 months, or as the flag requires | Flag, maker |
| Medical chest inspection | As the flag requires, usually every 12 months | MLC 2006 Reg. 4.1, Directive 92/29/EEC | |
| ODME, UTI & instruments | 15 ppm bilge alarm calibration check | At each IOPP renewal survey (5 years) | Res. MEPC.107(49) as amended |
| ODME | As the maker and flag require | Res. MEPC.108(49) | |
| UTI and sounding tapes | Usually every 12 months, or as charterers and terminals require | Maker, company SMS | |
| Drug & alcohol testing | Breathalyser calibration | As the maker specifies | Maker |
| Test kits | By the expiry date | Maker | |
| Radio, GMDSS & navigation | EPIRB annual test | 12 months | SOLAS IV/15.9, MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.2 |
| EPIRB shore-based maintenance | Not exceeding 5 years | SOLAS IV/15.9, MSC/Circ.1039 | |
| AIS annual test | 12 months | MSC.1/Circ.1252 | |
| VHF equipment for the revised channel plan | By the first radio survey after 1 January 2028 | MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.5 | |
| Fall protection | Periodic examination of personal fall protection equipment | At least every 12 months | EN 365 |
This table is a planning aid, not legal advice. The current text of SOLAS and the referenced codes and circulars, your flag's interpretation and the maker's instructions always take precedence.
For fleet managers
One agreement for the whole fleet
Agreed rates per unit, one planning contact and every vessel's due dates in one portal. We line up services that fall due close together, so a ship gets one visit instead of several.
Talk to us about your fleetEquipment and spares
Need the equipment itself?
Vertex Safety supplies PPE, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, LSA, IMO signs and spares from stock in Rotterdam. Our technicians bring what a ship needs on the same visit.
Visit the Vertex Safety shop
Request service
Tell us the ship and the port. We will take it from there.
A vessel name, an IMO number and an ETA are enough to get a quote moving. Attach last year's certificates if you have them.