Equipment only works if it is maintained and the crew knows how to use it. The basic SOLAS schedule looks like this:
Image: Roger Wollstadt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Abandon ship and fire drills: Monthly; within 24 hours of leaving port if more than 25% of the crew has changed.
- Lifeboat launching: At least every 3 months with the assigned crew.
- Liferaft and HRU service: Annually at an approved station.
- Fire extinguishers: Annual inspection plus periodic pressure testing.
- EPIRB: Monthly self-test, annual inspection; track battery and HRU dates.
- Weekly checks: Lifeboat engines run, general alarm tested, survival craft visually inspected.
Exact intervals can vary by flag state and ship type; check your ship's SMS and maintenance plan for current requirements.
This post is part of the Emergency Equipment Onboard series. Full series: /blog/seri/emergency-equipment-onboard
Related reading: Emergency Drills That Actually Work
