Brief description
The smaller version of the Sealift consists of a one man basket attached to an arm, which extends over the sea, and submerges to scoop up the casualty. With this unique design personnel being rescued are kept in a safe static condition and can be retrieved without further movement and risk of injury. Once retrieved in to the boat the individual can remain stationary in the basket, which acts as a shock absorber during transit. This opportunity to scoop from the sea and transport within the safety of the vessel without need for further manhandling, has been welcomed and praised by the medical profession.
This small self-contained system can be easily fitted to any small rescue craft, and is ideally designed for operation by a single person. Extensive testing off the coast of Norway has demonstrated that with the standard rescue launch (Man Overboard Boat), the MOB boat operation is effective with also two crew members, thus reducing crewing costs, and increasing the pay-load and space of the rescue craft.
Whilst the design is standardized to minimize costs, the actual fitting kit is customized to suit the individual vessel, taking into account the freeboard and stowage space required.
Development
Following the success of the larger version, the smaller unit has been developed in close Collaboration with MSM a.s. and tested at Nutec Sotra. With Nutec´s unique position within Norway of traning offshore personnel survival techniques and rescue operations, this has lead to a number of valuable improvements of the prototype design.
Full-scale trials have been performed in heavy seas to evaluate all aspects of the prototype design. These results analysed and minor adjustments incorporated into the final design. We currently are establishing a testing programme with a number of trials to demonstrate to the Norwegian Maritime Directorate and Norwegian Petroleum Directorate followed by the major oil Companies.
Trials
Extensive testing and trials have been performed at Nutec Sotra with very favourable results. Similar to the larger version, which was evaluated by Rogalandsforskning, when compared to alternative equipment the results indicate;
Sealift is least hampered by adverse weather conditions.
Sealift exposes the crew to a minimum of risk and can reduce the number of personnel required in the vessel.
Sealift is the most effective rescue equipment in adverse weather, and dramatically increases the effectiveness of the vessel.
[Back to Sealift]
|