Lifebuoy Type: 2.5-HX5556
The Shanghai Martian Ship Equipment Co., Ltd. 2.5-HX5556 is a SOLAS/MED-type lifebuoy and should be classified as lifesaving equipment rather than general interior material. It is a rigid buoyant ring carried at designated positions around the ship for immediate use when a person falls overboard. The lifebuoy is fitted with a grabline and retro-reflective material and may be installed at a station that also carries a self-igniting light or other approved position-indicating equipment. Its purpose is to provide flotation quickly without requiring the casualty to enter or inflate another appliance. The 2.5-HX5556 designation distinguishes this buoy from related heavier or differently configured lifebuoys in the manufacturer's range. Ship name and port markings, where required by the vessel's statutory regime, form part of the operational identification. The actual station equipment must match the approved lifesaving plan because not every lifebuoy position has the same attached light, smoke or release arrangement.
Inspector Detail
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Common issues
- UV degradation of the buoyant foam material causing brittleness over time
- Retro-reflective tape delamination or fading, reducing SOLAS reflectivity compliance
- Grabline chafe, degradation, or missing sections
- Vessel name/port of registry markings fading below legibility
- Attachment point wear where a self-igniting light or smoke signal bracket is fitted
- Buoyancy loss from waterlogged padding or hairline cracks in the shell
Inspection checklist
- Visual check for cracks, chafing, or UV degradation of the shell
- Check retro-reflective tape condition and coverage per SOLAS
- Verify the grabline is intact and properly secured around the buoy
- Confirm vessel name/port of registry markings are legible
- Check the quick-release/attachment arrangement if a self-igniting light or smoke signal is fitted
- Confirm the stowage bracket allows quick release and is not painted or seized shut
- Visually assess for waterlogging (unusual weight gain)
Service intervals
| Visual inspection | monthly, as part of routine LSA rounds |
| Detailed inspection including light/smoke signal battery check | annually, per the LSA survey cycle |
| Replacement | per SOLAS/manufacturer-stated service life or on condition, whichever comes first |
Critical spares
- Replacement lifebuoys of the correct SOLAS-approved type
- SOLAS-approved retro-reflective tape
- Grablines
- In-date self-igniting lights/smoke signals, where fitted
Safety
- Expired or degraded lifebuoy lights/smoke signals must be replaced before their expiry date
- A cracked or waterlogged lifebuoy may not provide rated buoyancy in an emergency
- The quick-release stowage must never be obstructed or seized
Class survey
Product identification note: the DNV MED certificate and description identify this item as a lifebuoy (Life-Saving Appliance), not an interior/construction material as categorized here. Lifebuoys are LSA items surveyed under SOLAS Ch. III / LSA Code - quantity, marking, reflective tape, and any associated lights or smoke signals are checked at each annual and renewal survey.
Components & Design
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Technical Data
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Common failures & inspection points
Service & Maintenance
Inspect the lifebuoy under the vessel's lifesaving-appliance PMS and statutory inspection regime. Check the shell, buoyant body, grabline, retro-reflective material, markings and any attachment points without painting over approval identification. Confirm the buoy is free to release immediately from its stowage and that associated light or smoke equipment, where fitted, is correctly connected and within its own service requirements. Replace a damaged buoy rather than attempting an unapproved structural repair to the shell or buoyant material. Dimensions, mass, buoyancy criteria and accessory requirements should be verified from the certificate, SOLAS/LSA requirements and manufacturer documentation for the exact unit.
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DNV type approval
Verified against the DNV Approval Finder — the certificate below is issued by DNV, not by us.
- Certificate
- MEDB000099E