The Department of Transport has issued a safety notice to advise all users of Deutsche Schlauchboot GmbH (DSB) life rafts of important information regarding the equipment.

In June 2022, the UK-registered stern trawler Piedras (FD 528) flooded while fishing 78 nautical miles south-west of Mizen Head, Co Cork.

The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch has issued a Safety Bulletin following an inspection of the life raft that was used by the crew to abandon ship during this incident.

The inspection found that the life raft had not been correctly serviced since its manufacture by DSB in March 2007, despite having been routinely certified by the service station Comfer Marin SL, Marin, Spain.

Therefore, owners and operators of DSB life rafts serviced by Comfer Marin SL, Spain, between January 2017 and June 2022 are advised to contact their nearest approved Survitec life raft service station without delay to arrange for their life rafts to be reinspected and serviced to ensure that they are in working order and comply with all statutory requirements.

Details of Survitec life raft service stations can be found HERE.