More liferaft stations

Manufacturers’ approvals of a number of Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s liferaft stations have now taken the number of approved stations to 30.  The expansion reflects the continuing success of the company’s Liferaft Exchange Programme around the world.

Since Wilhelmsen Ships Service launched its Liferaft Exchange Programme one year ago, the programme has made approximately 10,000 liferaft exchanges and continues to expand.

The concept, which exchanges service-due liferafts and life-saving appliances for operational ones, takes better control of costs and reduces the chance of getting caught out by unforeseen service dates and costly weak links in the supply chain. The solution was developed as a result of customer requests and is a step forward in increasing the customer’s operational efficiency.

The liferaft rental concept has caught on so rapidly that Wilhelmsen Ships Service is placing an increasing amount of resources into the programme to keep pace with demand.

“As a result of our global liferaft station network expansion and the focus that Wilhelmsen Ships Service has centred on the benefits of the exchange system we have now reached 10,000 exchanges and continue to expand our service coverage to meet further increase in these numbers in the future,” comments Dave Evans, Product Marketing Manager Life Saving & Survival at Wilhelmsen Ships Service.  “It proves that the market finds our innovative solution efficient and financially attractive.”

By gaining approvals for its liferaft service stations Wilhelmsen Ships Service satisfies IMO requirements and the company is authorised to operate as an approved service and repair station for its Unitor range of inflatable liferafts.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service, the world’s leading maritime service network, offers Unitor liferafts both for sale and as part of the Wilhelmsen Ships Service rental programme. The company’s other Unitor marked products, including gasses, chemicals, welding equipment and spares, and fire and safety equipment are also available from the majority of the Liferaft stations.  The company also offers full husbandry attendance, including off port limit operations, discharge, dry docking, bunkers and/or service calls.

Source: Transport Weekly