Type 10 DK+, 10-person capacity SOLAS A or SOLAS B inflatable liferaft.

Common issues

• Hydrostatic release unit (HRU) approaching or past its expiry date
• Painter line or weak link deterioration from UV and weather exposure
• Container or cradle corrosion, especially at the securing straps and stowage rails
• Missed or overdue annual service at an approved service station
• Canister seal degradation allowing moisture ingress
• Incorrect painter line lead, risking snagging or failure to inflate correctly on release

Inspection checklist

• Check the service due date/sticker on the container
• Check the HRU expiry date and confirm it matches the type fitted
• Check the painter line and weak link are correctly secured and not chafed
• Check the cradle, stowage securing and float-free arrangement
• Check the container for physical damage, corrosion or paint that could jam a float-free release
• Verify the SOLAS pack contents list against the last service record
• Confirm davit and launching arrangement function if this unit is davit-launched

Service intervals

Typical intervals for this design class, not the manufacturer’s figures for your model. The manufacturer’s manual is binding.

Critical spares

• Hydrostatic release unit (HRU)
• Painter line
• Weak link
• Retro-reflective tape/markings
• Container gasket/seal, renewed at service

Safety

• Stored energy in the inflation system (CO2/N2 cylinder) - do not tamper with the canister outside an approved service station
• Entrapment or crush risk during launch or float-free release
• Davit and gravity-release mechanism hazards if this unit is davit-launched
• An overdue or missing service certificate is treated as a serious safety deficiency and can lead to detention under port state control

Class survey

Note on this entry: the order data listed this item's type as 'Freefall Lifeboat', but the description (Viking Type 10 DK+, 10-person capacity SOLAS A or SOLAS B inflatable liferaft) is clearly a stowed or davit-launched inflatable liferaft, not a freefall lifeboat. This entry has been written for the inflatable liferaft. The liferaft's service certificate is checked at every survey and by port state control; a current annual service stamp and correct HRU expiry are the two items most commonly checked.

Estimated lifetime: Not meaningfully measured in running hours - liferafts of this type typically have a stated service life on the order of 12-15 years before retirement, subject to mandatory annual servicing throughout that period; confirm the exact figure against the SOLAS certificate and manufacturer's data