The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has developed an online tool to provide easier search and filtering capabilities for seafarers looking to locate approved service stations for life saving appliances (LSAs).
It said the search engine provides filterable results to identify service stations it has approved across the UK, according to location, appliance type and manufacture.
MCA approved service stations are annually assessed and certified to carry out servicing work to these devices, which include devices including lifejackets, life rafts, marine evacuation systems (MES) and inflated rescue boats.
All inflatable LSAs certified by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) must be serviced at UK approved service stations, at intervals not exceeding 12 months (unless otherwise exempted).
The MCA’s lead on the issue, Robert Stone-Ward, said: “Servicing LSA is a legal requirement under SOLAS that ensures that your devices are functioning correctly and will be ready for use in an emergency.
“Our new tool is a simple way for seafarers and those with responsibilities for maintaining safety equipment to more easily find an MCA approved service station for a range of devices, in a location closest to them.”
