Viking Type 50 DKS+ S30, 50-person self-righting SOLAS A or SOLAS B inflatable liferaft approved for extended service intervals in accordance with SOLAS regulation III/20.8.3.

Common issues

• Loss of buoyancy/pressure from slow leaks in the inflatable chambers, often at seams or valve connections
• Painter line or hydrostatic release unit (HRU) deterioration affecting automatic release and inflation
• CO2/N2 inflation cylinder corrosion or under-charge reducing inflation reliability
• Canopy fabric UV degradation and abrasion from cradle/stowage contact
• Servicing interval lapses leading to expired survival equipment or an overdue repack
• Container/cradle corrosion affecting free-float launch in an emergency

Inspection checklist

• Visual check of the liferaft container, cradle, and lashings for corrosion and secure stowage
• Check the hydrostatic release unit expiry date and correct installation/orientation
• Verify the painter is correctly secured to a strong point, not left coiled incorrectly
• Confirm the service due date/annual service sticker is current
• Check that stowage allows free-float release within the required time
• Inspect for physical damage to the container that could impede automatic opening
• Verify the davit/launching arrangement, if davit-launched, operates correctly

Service intervals

Typical wear limits

Ranges are typical for this design class. Always confirm against the manufacturer documentation for your serial number.

Critical spares

• Hydrostatic release unit of the matching approved type
• Painter line and weak link, if part of the release arrangement
• Inflation cylinder (CO2/N2), serviced/recharged only by an approved station
• Container seal/banding for re-stowage after service

Safety

• Never attempt to open, service, or recharge the liferaft container onboard - this is an approved-service-station-only task
• Incorrect painter attachment can prevent inflation or cause the raft to be lost with a sinking vessel
• An expired hydrostatic release unit is a critical safety failure - check the date at every inspection
• Confirm the item is correctly identified as an inflatable liferaft rather than a lifeboat for correct emergency response planning and crew drills

Class survey

Note on data quality: the order data lists this item's type as 'Freefall Lifeboat', but the product description, source record ('INFLATABLE LIFERAFT (SOLAS)'), and model reference indicate this is actually a SOLAS inflatable liferaft (davit- or throw-overboard-launched, self-righting, 50-person capacity), not a rigid freefall lifeboat - the catalogue type/category field appears to be a data error and should be corrected separately. This content addresses the liferaft as the actual product. Class and PSC will check the current service certificate, HRU expiry, and stowage/lashing arrangement at each survey.