Every year, before the season gets into full swing, our liferafts head off for their annual independent safety inspection and servicing. This week we collected them back — all of them, as the photo shows — and they’re now back on board where they belong.
It’s not the most glamorous part of running a boat trip operation, but it’s one of the most important.
What a Liferaft Actually Does
A liferaft is the last line of defence in the unlikely event that a vessel has to be abandoned at sea. Stored in a compact, sealed container on deck, they inflate rapidly via a pressurised gas cylinder — deploying in seconds into a buoyant, sheltered platform designed to keep people alive in open water until rescue arrives.
They’re built tough. Water-resistant materials, high-visibility colours, and packed with distress equipment including flares and basic medical supplies — everything designed to perform under the worst conditions the sea can throw at them.
Because of that, they need to be serviced by certified professionals every single year. Seals checked, gas cylinders tested, internal equipment inspected and replaced as needed. There’s no cutting corners with safety-critical kit.
What This Means for Our Passengers
When you step aboard the Causeway Lass or Causeway Girl, a lot of work has already gone on behind the scenes to make sure you’re in safe hands. Annual liferaft servicing is just one part of that — alongside regular vessel maintenance, qualified crew, and full compliance with maritime safety regulations.
We’ve been operating from Portrush Harbour since 1998, and that record is built on taking this stuff seriously. Every trip, every passenger, every time.
Book with confidence — see our full range of trips and experiences at Causeway Boats.
