Collection: SOLAS Lifebuoy for Ship & Boat

  • Orange Lifebuoy with SOLAS approval

    The SOLAS lifebuoy in orange is the international standard lifebuoy. The approved lifebuoy meets the global safety requirements for lifebuoys in accordance with the SOLAS Code. Explore our high-quality SOLAS lifebuoys in orange!
    An approved SOLAS Lifebuoy with a weight of usually 2.5 kg is designed as a rescue device for classic live-saving device for drowning people. The SOLAS MOB lifebuoy with a weight of 4 kg or 4.5 kg is suitable for the man overboard maneuver and is usually used in conjunction with a light-smoke signal. A SOLAS lifebuoy usually has a hard plastic shell that is particularly robust, durable and weatherproof. A SOLAS lifebuoy with the ship's name and home port is required by the international regulations for seagoing vessels. You can buy a SOLAS lifebuoy in our online shop. If you wish, you can also have it personalized with your name, boat name, ship's name and home port.

    The SOLAS regulations have their origins in a famous event: the tragedy of the Titanic in 1912. At the time of the accident, the regulations for rescue equipment and live-saving devices, as well as for many other safety-related aspects in shipping, were not standardized worldwide and were sometimes very vague. The new lifebuoy standard is set defined in MED - EN14144 - SOLAS 74. The regulation for the SOLAS lifebuoy 74/96 ensures that the same safety standard is always guaranteed on board ships and boats, in particular for sea-going vessels.

  • Buy SOLAS lifebuoy in orange

    The approved SOLAS lifebuoy in orange is the standard lifebuoy in shipping, whether it is a sea-going vessel or an inland waterway vessel. A SOLAS lifebuoy with approval has the necessary technical features that are prescribed by the international convention for safety at sea. These requirements concern the size of the lifebuoy with outer diameter and inner diameter as well as the weight and the maximum drop height. In addition, the SOLAS regulations stipulate that a lifebuoy in shipping must have reflective strips, so-called reflective strips, and must be in the signal color orange. The SOLAS agreement also regulates how many lifebuoys must be present on a ship. An orange lifebuoy with SOLAS approval meets all the required points.
    If a man overboard situation occurs, one thing counts above all: speed. In addition, it is essential to have the right rescue equipment on hand and to be able to use it in a targeted manner. In the classic person overboard maneuver (MOB), it is a great challenge not to lose sight of the drowning person. At a water temperature of less than 20°C, there is a particular risk of hypothermia. Due to the high requirements for SOLAS approval, the lifebuoy with SOLAS certificate is no longer only found on seagoing vessels and inland vessels. Rather, the lifebuoy with SOLAS certification has become the standard lifebuoy in the harbor, on the beach, in the outdoor pool and on the banks of rivers and lakes. The SOLAS lifebuoy with throwing line and light is an ideal combination when it comes to rescuing drowning people. You can of course buy a high-quality lifebuoy throwing line and a corresponding rescue light from us together with your new lifebuoy with SOLAS approval. A lifebuoy with light and a lifebuoy with line are available as a discounted package. The night light is attached next to the lifebuoy. The floating line is connected to the lifebuoy and also attached next to it. If a dangerous situation occurs, the lifebuoy with line ensures that the lifebuoy and the drowning person do not drift away. The lifebuoy with light means that their position can always be identified even in the dark. The lifebuoy light is often also called a rescue signal buoy or night light.

  • Lifebuoy with approval and certification

    A lifebuoy with approval and certification has established itself as the absolute number 1 and standard lifebuoy here due to its durability, size and good visibility. The SOLAS lifebuoy with certificate is not only a reliable lifesaver, but also a real maritime eye-catcher. Not least because of this, the orange lifebuoy is now very popular even in recreational boating and water sports and is also used on boats and yachts. You can buy the SOLAS lifebuoy from us in proven brand quality.
    If a person has fallen overboard, man overboard must be called immediately, along with an indication of which side of the ship the person fell overboard on. At least one crew member who remains on board must observe the person at all times and point to them with an outstretched arm. On a boat, the MOB maneuver involves turning around immediately and driving back to the drowning person. The accident site must be marked immediately with a special MOB lifebuoy. This is particularly heavy and complies with the special SOLAS rules.
    The entire MOB maneuver, all necessary aid measures and rescue equipment are precisely prescribed in the SOLAS agreement. You can also buy a SOLAS MOB lifebuoy orange in our online shop.
    The lifebuoy with throwing line and holder is the usual use of the SOLAS lifebuoy in 75 cm. The lifebuoy as well as the throwing line and the holder are of extremely high quality. You can buy your lifebuoy with throwing line and holder from us with free shipping.

Lifebuoys according to SOLAS: Requirements at a glance

The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) convention determines the international standards for the safety of people on board ships. The official name of the agreement is "International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974" or "International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974".

The SOLAS convention stipulates the following requirements for lifebuoys in international shipping:

The SOLAS lifebuoy shall be of solid cork or any other equivalent material. It shall further be capable of supporting in fresh water for 24 hours at least 14.5 kg of iron.

The SOLAS lifebuoy shall not be affected by oil and it shall be of a highly visible colour, such as orange.

The lifebuoy shall be marked in block letters with the name and port of registry of the ship.

Lifebuoys filled with any loose granulated material are not allowed.

The SOLAS Lifebuoy shall be capable of retaining their buoyant properties and durability in sea water as well as under variations of temperature.

According to the SOLAS convention, Lifebuoys shall have grab lines. At least one SOLAS lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be equipped with a floating throw line.

On passenger ships the half of the total number of lifebuoys on board shall be equipped with a floating Lifebuoy Light.

At least two of these Lifebuoys with Light shall be equipped with a self-activating smoke signal in order to carry out the MOB manoeuvre.

The SOLAS Lifebuoys on a ship shall be readily acessible to the persons on board. Also, they shall not be permanently secured in any way so that they can be rapidly cast loose.

A SOLAS Lifebuoy shall have the following dimensions:

  • The inner diameter of the lifebuoy should not be less than 400 mm and the outer diameter should not be more than 800 mm.
  • The weight of the lifebuoy should not be less than 2.5 kg.
  • The weight of the man overboard MOB lifebuoy should not be more than 4 kg.
  • The diameter of the grab line should not be less than 9.5 mm. The length should be at least 4 times the outer diameter of the lifebuoy and secured at four equally spaced points.

The number of lifebuoys required depends on the length of the vessel as follows:

Cargo ships:

  • Ship length less than 100 metres: 8 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 100 metres: 10 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 150 metres: 12 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 200 metres: 14 lifebuoys

Passenger ships:

  • Ship length less than 60 metres: 8 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 60 metres but less than 120 metres: 12 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 120 metres but less than 180 metres: 18 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 180 metres but less than 240 metres: 24 lifebuoys
  • Ship length greater than 240 metres: 30 lifebuoys