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Life floats and life buoys are SOLAS standard and ideal for a yacht up to commercial ships. They help people survive in an emergency situation as they provide additional flotation until passengers can be rescued. Grand Ocean also supplies horseshoe lifebuoy, inflatable life buoy, EVA Lifebuoy, decorative life ring, rescue can and lifeguard rescue tube for leisure purpose.
Our life buoy rings (2.5kgs & 4.3kgs) are produced according to SOLAS standard. The SOLAS life buoys are also approved by DNV-GL, CCS, EC, CE.
Our payment options include T/T, Paypal, Western Union. All lifebuoy rings are inspected before delivery. We guarantee a full refund to clients if goods are not approved.
We are able to provide OEM service for you. The life buoy ring size, color, design and material can be as your requirements. Free sampling is available.
We have a large stock of lifebuoy rings. The delivery time can be in 2 working days for stock items and 10 days for custom-made life buoys.
Lifebuoy ring also names marine life buoy or life float ring, which is a ring-like red tube that you use when someone fell overboard in the water when you are sailing on water.
Lifebuoy ring is a personal flotation device. It is used to perform emergency rescues. Its buoyancy prevents drowning in case a person accidentally goes overboard into deep water.
Normally, the lifebuoy ring is thrown on the water body to assist the casualty to stay afloat by holding on to it and getting pulled out to safety by a rescuer. In this operation, the rescuer does not need to get into contact with the water and just helps from dry ground. Rescuer needs to take absolute care so as not to get pulled over and fall inside too.
The donut or disc-shaped device is commonly carried in ships at sea and is noticeable at the sides, aft, stern, pilot stairway or decks. Areas with a straight drop into adjacent water of sufficient depth to cause drowning are high risk and also utilize lifebuoy ring.
Rivers, lakes, canals, creeks and other inland waterways with jetties, piers, bridges and harbor walls are good examples. Because of the risk of an accidental fall from the edges which could potentially cause drowning, lifebuoy rings are a common device to spot in such places too.
Swimming pools may warrant the erection of a lifebuoy ring or two. However, due to the nature of being crowded or having children swimming, non-SOLAS approved lifebuoy ring are more common for recreation purpose since they are much lighter (less than 2.5 kg), easier to transfer even by young or old people and less likely to cause physical injury.
Commercial lifebuoy rings are somehow heavy duty thus SOLAS approved and best suited for oceanic activity.
Lifebuoy ring should have a popping color that is highly visible to the rescuer from a good distance and the casualty against crashing waves. The international distress orange is the recommended color as it is contrasting to both the blue sea and sky and is easy to see during the day and night too with a little illumination. It is also a color universally recognized for water safety lifebuoy devices.
The interior and exterior construction material for lifebuoy ring must be rigid yet light and buoyant at the same time. Also, it should be rot and mildew proof. The outer hard shell is fabricated from a material such as high-density polyethylene while the inner part filling is made out of polyurethane foam.
Lifebuoy ring comes in many sizes. Those compliant with SOLAS dimension requirements have an internal diameter of not less than 16 inches (400mm) and not less than 32 inches (800mm) for the outer diameter. The weight ranges is a minimum of 2.5 kg and a maximum of 6 kg. The 30 inches 2.5 kg SOLAS approved lifebuoy ring is the most common size used in ships and ports.
It is optimum in size for adults to handle comfortably and also offers greater buoyancy and can support multiple casualties. SOLAS approved lifebuoy rings must have the ability to support for 24 hours, a minimum of 14.5 Kg (32 pounds) of iron on fresh water.
A grab-line must circle the lifebuoy ring and be secured at four different points of equal distance. Its diameter must be 9.5mm or more. The grab-line should be long enough so as to form loops in between the four securing points for easy grabbing by the casualty. The recommended length is at least four times the diameter of the device.
Cargo ships will carry a prescribed number of lifebuoy rings as per the length of the vessel in meters. The minimum number for compliance is 8 for ships of 100 meters or less, and 10, 12 and 14 for ships up to 150, 200 and over 200 meters respectively.
A person may accidentally fall inside water from a ship or while walking at the edges of places overlooking deep waters such as at the port. It could be caused by strong winds, tripping, leaning and breaking of fragile rails, mere inattention and many other reasons.
In such an event, a lifebuoy ring comes in handy to save the person from drowning especially if they have no swimming skills. Even when they do have swimming capability and it is in extremely cold water or during stormy weather, their skill effectiveness will be negatively affected. A lifebuoy ring helps to get them out much faster.
To deploy a lifebuoy ring, the rescuer holds on tightly to the loose end of the floating line in one hand. Using the other hand swings back and throws the lifebuoy ring to the casualty. The rescuer should aim to get the ring to go far beyond the casualty and then using the rescue line, pull it to the exact spot the casualty is or within arms reach for an easy grasp.
Care must be taken to ensure the appliance does not land on top of the casualty. Being at least 2.5 kg and sometimes more up to even 4 kg, hitting them could cause injury or even knock them out derailing the entire operation and purpose of the buoyant ring.
Therefore, to prevent this from happening, it is advisable to first establish a voice alert. Shouting to the casualty “lifebuoy ring” makes them aware of the intention to throw a lifebuoy ring their way.
Once the casualty gets a firm hold of the ring, they can wear it over their head and arms. Others opt to just hang from the grab-line. At this point, they are hauled slowly to safety and helped climb out at the edge or re-board the ship.
To make a lifebuoy ring rescue operation a success, the rescuer must be reassuring to calm the casualty down and give them the confidence that they can do it.
Particular attention must be paid when using a lifebuoy ring near the vessel’s propeller as the floating line can get cut by the blades or entangled in the engine and stalling the rescue process.
A lifebuoy ring housing is a case built to contain the flotation device to protect it from damage or deterioration. This can occur from long exposure to high temperatures, ultraviolet rays and even regular splashes from the salty water of the sea. The housing encloses the lifebuoy ring in a safe, weatherproof case to prevent degradation by these elements.
The housing also provides a means of mounting the lifebuoy ring and can come with the ring or purchased separately depending on the manufacturer. It could be a rigid polyurethane cabinet or a PVC fabric bag type of case.
It is important to be familiar with your size requirement and mounting option when purchasing a housing case. Some are universal and work with a variety of lifebuoy ring sizes and can also be mounted on either post, rail or wall while others are very specific. Characteristics of a good lifebuoy ring housing cabinet include;
When purchasing a lifebuoy ring, you also need some accessories to use with it. This is because most times, the ring comes as it is only with the grab line. Some manufacturers may include these accessories with the lifebuoy ring while others sell them separately. Whatever the case, a SOLAS ring must go with SOLAS approved accessories to increase its efficiency as a water safety device. These accessories are;
Every ring lifebuoy should possess some form of markings with a type II retroreflective material. Such markings simplify night time rescues because they will reflect back the beam of light from a torch making the lifebuoy ring easy to spot by a rescuer as well as the casualty. This is particularly critical during night time rescues. A luminous gray reflective tape is normally used by being wrapped around the ring at 4 different points with equal spacing.
A buoyant, non-kinking lifeline also known as floating line, rescue line or throw line needs to be attached to a lifebuoy ring. The purpose of this line is to enable pulling of the ring when the casualty has already held on to it for a quick recovery. Sometimes it is to retrieve the ring for a second deployment in case the first throw was drifted away by waves and went off course or landed too far from the casualty.
Due to the nature of its purpose, the line must be at least 100 feet (30m) long, 8mm in diameter and be able to withstand a minimum strain of 5 KN. This is sufficient strength to avoid breaking when in use. The end of this floating line can either be loose or encapsulated. The line’s recommended color code is orange to enhance its visibility.
At least a half of the lifebuoy rings on board shall have a self-igniting floating electric light powered by batteries. The light should be waterproof so as not to be extinguished by wetness but rather triggered to light up at the touch of water. The light will be white in color with at least 2-candela luminous intensity.
It should last for a period of not less than 120 minutes, either as a continuous beam of light or 50 to 70 flashes every minute. It should also be able to withstand the water drop test of at least 30 m without being rendered dysfunctional from the impact.
A lifebuoy ring must be conspicuous as well as accessible if it is to serve its purpose of saving lives. The location of storage should be in sight and within close proximity to where it is intended for use. Such a place would ideally be on both sides of a water vessel, a staircase leading to water or a walkway above the water.
There are three ways of fixing a lifebuoy ring. By mounting it on a post, rail mounting or bolting it to a wall. A mounting kit is used to carry out the installation which should follow fairly simple procedures. It may contain plasticized or galvanized steel pole, hooks, rack, clamps, brackets, and other accessories depending on the preferred method of mounting.
The securing system will not be permanent in any way. It should be loose enough and provide a hassle-free way of users to swiftly cast the lifebuoy ring.
The storage option should also secure the floating line and the self-igniting light too. Usually, a plastic tube that fits snuggle in the middle of the ring is used to encapsulate the floating line.
Otherwise, a loose end floating line will be coiled into a reel in a clockwise direction for storage. For the self-igniting light, a holding bracket is provided for with the ring bracket. This light is also not permanently fixed and should also come off at the casting of the lifebuoy ring. Multiple lifebuoy rings will be stowed 100 meters apart from each other.
The frequency of routine inspection of lifebuoy ring varies across regulatory bodies of different localities. However, a lifebuoy ring must be inspected after every use whether it was performing a rescue or drill. Where there is suspected theft or vandalism, an inspection can be done too.
Housing must be in good condition with its closure working freely. A supportive structure such as posts or poles and racks must be checked for cracks, loose screws and anything compromising stability. The ring should be checked for signs of degradation and whether water has seeped in by weighing it.
Reflective tape or panels must be clean and firmly affixed. Grab-line and the floating line should be free from fraying, thinning spots, knots and any kind of deterioration. It should be stored in a neat, kink-free reel.
The light must be tested too. Instructions for use must be clear and legible. An inspection will be done accurately and records kept. The authorizing body for a lifebuoy ring is responsible for inspection and will usually have the full checklist.
| Model | Outer Diam. | Inner Diam. | Buoyancy | Weight | Approval |
| 5555-I | 720mm | 450mm | ≥142N | ≥2.5kgs | EC / CCS |
| 5555-II | 720mm | 450mm | ≥142N | ≥4.3kgs | EC / CCS |
Normally lifebuoy rings are packed by woven bag or cartons. It can meet export requirements. Another packing can be as your request.
Our lifebuoy ring has already delivered to Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Indonesia, Spain, UK, New Zealand, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, India, Ukraine, Pakistan, Greece, Italy, South Korea, Dubai, UAE, USA, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, etc.
If you are looking for a reliable lifebuoy ring manufacturer from China, you are in the right place. We are able to supply you SOLAS life buoy, inflatable life buoy, life float, rescue buoys, lifebuoy accessories. OEM service is also available.
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NO.1299, East Section of Yinxian Avenue,Yinzhou Dist, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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