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Life−saving

Cobham’s own vacuum-packing was daylight with

technology, which has enabled the a forecast force 9
innovative integration of the headwind and

components. Other distinguishing 6m head sea, and
features of the Survivor+ life raft include the vessel was

a ballast bag and sea anchor to provide making a speed
stability, a strobe light fixed to the top of of about 3 knots

the canopy for easy night detection and through the
an integrated PLB option. It also has a water and 1 knot

built in ‘bail out sleeve’, which allows the over the ground.

user to clear the raft of water without A nylon
opening the canopy, and an inflatable mooring rope,

seat cushion which adds a further layer which had been
of thermal protection. Survivor+ can be secured on a pallet on the aft mooring prevailing weather conditions. However,

used in combination with immersion deck, was loose in its stowage and the on being notified of the accident, the
suits and other safety garments, adding master was concerned that if it was coastguard tasked two lifeboats and two

an extra layer of protection. Reports washed overboard it would sink and rescue helicopters, and a number of
show that it is still possible to drown in an potentially foul the vessel’s propeller. He other vessels joined the search and rescue

immersion suit, especially in high seas therefore decided that the rope needed to effort to locate and recover the two men.
and winds, so it is still important to get The body of one of the crew be re-secured.

out of the water as quickly as possible.
Two crew members volunteered to members was later recovered from the

“We have taken two disparate go onto the aft mooring deck to secure sea, but attempts to recover the body of
products, A COTS SOLAS certified life the rope. The master’s plan was for each the second crew member were

jacket and a military qualified single of them to wear a lifejacket and a safety unsuccessful.
Cobham believes that in person life raft, and integrated them in a harness, with one end of a firefighter’s

circumstances like these, Survivor+ Personal Survival System that anyone lifeline attached to the safety harness and
might have helped: “We don’t know what can wear as a back pack. All the casualty the other secured to a handrail two decks

happened after the men hit the water, has to do is climb into the single person above. Any slack in the lifelines would be
apart from that their life jackets inflated life raft and zip it all closed, which can be manually taken up by crew members

correctly. We do know that they had no achieved quickly in quite high seas and tending the secured ends of the lifelines.
With the lifelines secured and tended way to get out of the water or stay inclement weather,” added Don

as planned, the two volunteers proceeded protected from the elements whilst rescue Blackman, Engineering Research
to the aft mooring deck and started to teams were en route though. It’s during Manager, Cobham Life Support.

secure the mooring rope. The vessel then this period that getting out of the water “Considering the levels of training and

shipped a large wave, the force of which and removing yourself from the elements equipment available today, it’s
washed the two men overboard and can increase chances of survival during unacceptable that maritime and offshore

caused the tending crew members to tragic incidents like this,” said Mr workers are still drowning as a result of
release their grip on the lifelines. The Blackman. going overboard. In terms of the

lifelines then parted.
I
requirement to get out of the water and
The lifejackets of the into a survivable environment on an

two men overboard individual basis, Survivor+ is a significant
inflated and the vessel’s breakthrough that could save lives.”

two bridge wing lifebuoys
and attached smoke/light

A tragedy reported
units were released. A Case 9 of the UK Marine Accident

DSC alert was transmitted Investigation Board (MAIB) Safety
on VHF radio and a Digest 1/2014 details a tragedy that one

“Mayday” message was must ask if it could have been avoided up
then broadcast on to the point of the incident happening,

Channel 16. The master and also after the casualties found
considered that it would themselves in the water:

be too dangerous to turn A 13,000gt general cargo vessel was
the vessel around in the
on passage with a timber deck cargo. It

2014 Issue 61 The SHIP Supplier 25