Marine evacuation for smaller vessels

Targeted at vessels with passenger capacities ranging from 300 to 1,500 persons, such as ferries and expedition cruise ships, Survitec’s new MES solution is being launched during the SMM Trade Fair before being rolled out to the market from early 2023.

”We were aware that there was demand for an extended service MES solution with high functionality to serve the ferry and small passenger cruise market. We went back to the drawing board and took a fresh look at how we could drive innovation to meet this need,” said Richard McCormick, AES and MES product manager, Survitec.

Tried and tested

The new MES solution builds on Survitec’s success and growing market share in the larger cruise ship market, where the company has installed some of its largest dry-shod MES systems.

Using the fully enclosed, dry-shod helical (spiral) slide design of the company’s popular Marin Ark 2, the new MES solution ensures safe, rapid and intuitive descent for people of all ages and abilities. There is no restriction on the size of individual users and crew can ascend the slide to assist passengers if necessary.

Fully enclosed single and double helical slide options are available in an asymmetric arrangement, the new MES solution comprises self-righting approved liferafts for 50, 100, 150 persons, with SOLAS A, B and HSC emergency packs.

For use on vessels with up to 23m of freeboard, the new MES solution will be type approved later this year by classification society Bureau Veritas according to SOLAS and MED requirements.

With a choice of robustly tested SOLAS-approved liferaft options to meet customer needs, the flexible design allows for installation in a wide range of configurations. Inflation takes place automatically within 60 seconds and minimal crew interaction is needed during this phase. Multiple buoyancy compartments provide stability and safety in the toughest sea conditions.

Mr McCormick said that customers can expect to see operational and cost efficiencies with an extended service MES option of up to 30 months, this is because all of the complex logistics around servicing only have to be undertaken roughly every two and a half years.

But the standard 12-month service offering remains available to those customers that choose it. 

Survitec also provides training programmes for crew, to improve their emergency evacuation skills and how to deploy MES correctly.