A lifeboat davit arm is not a system you commission once and forget. The hydraulic circuit must be installed correctly, flushed clean, and pressure tested before the system can be trusted. At MI Solutions, our team recently completed a full lifeboat davit arm hydraulic commissioning onboard, covering tubing installation, system flushing, and pressure testing — all in compliance with SOLAS regulations. This article outlines exactly what that scope involved and the standard our LSA and life-saving appliance team in Dubai applies to every davit arm job.
Whether the requirement is a new installation, a repair following survey deficiency, or a full hydraulic system renewal, this is what a proper davit arm commissioning looks like.
Project Scope at a Glance
The full davit arm commissioning scope covered the following work packages, delivered by MI Solutions’ in-house team onboard:
The Commissioning Process — Phase by Phase
MI Solutions executed the davit arm commissioning through a structured, sequenced programme. Every phase was managed by MI Solutions’ in-house team — one point of contact from mobilisation to sign-off.
Hydraulic Tubing & Pipework Installation
The hydraulic circuit of a davit arm system is the backbone of its operation. Correct tubing routing, secure fittings, and leak-free connections are the starting point for everything that follows. MI Solutions’ technicians installed and routed hydraulic tubing to the davit arm manufacturer’s specification, using the correct tube material and fittings rated for the system’s working pressure.
All connections were inspected and verified before system fill. Where pipework interfaces with deck structures or required fabrication of support brackets, MI Solutions’ marine welding and fabrication team in Dubai supported the installation to ensure a clean, correct result.
System Flushing
Contaminants introduced during installation — metal particles, scale, and debris from fabrication — will damage hydraulic components if the system is operated without first being flushed. Hydraulic flushing removes these contaminants before the system is put into service, protecting actuators, control valves, and seals from premature wear and failure.
MI Solutions carried out hydraulic flushing using the correct grade oil and flushing procedure, circulating fluid through the complete circuit until cleanliness was confirmed. Flushing was completed and documented before pressure testing proceeded.
Pressure Testing
Pressure testing confirms the integrity of the hydraulic circuit under conditions that meet or exceed the system’s working pressure. It identifies leaks, weak fittings, and any pipework that does not hold pressure before the system is used operationally or presented to a class surveyor.
MI Solutions conducted pressure testing to the manufacturer’s specified test pressure. All joints, fittings, and connections were inspected under test conditions. Any deficiencies identified were rectified and re-tested before the system was accepted. Full test records were prepared for class and vessel documentation. Where valves and hydraulic components required supply as part of the scope, these were sourced through MI Solutions’ marine spare parts supply team in the UAE.
Functional Load Test & SOLAS Verification
On completion of pressure testing, the davit arm system was functionally tested to confirm that deployment, lowering, and recovery operations all performed correctly. The system was verified to be operating in compliance with SOLAS requirements before being returned to service.
MI Solutions coordinated the functional test with the vessel’s officers, with all operations observed and recorded. The completed commissioning package — tubing installation records, flushing report, pressure test results, and functional test sign-off — was handed over to the vessel for class and PMS records. MI Solutions’ hydraulic repair team in Dubai supported the functional verification of all hydraulic actuators and control components throughout.
Related Services from MI Solutions
Davit arm commissioning work frequently takes place within a wider docking or port maintenance scope. MI Solutions provides all of the following under one roof — one point of contact, no subcontracting delays:
Need Lifeboat Davit Arm Commissioning? Contact Us Today
From hydraulic tubing to full pressure testing and SOLAS-compliant documentation — our team handles the complete scope, onboard or at anchorage.
📞 +971 4 576 2560
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✉ info@mi-solutions.in
MarineSafety · ShipRepair · SOLAS · Commissioning · LifeboatSafety · MISShipRepair · LSA · HydraulicRepair