By
Rebecca Gibson |
Marine and fire safety equipment leader Viking Life-Saving Equipment has launched its latest LifeCraft system, which enables the rapid, mass evacuation of up to 800 passengers and crew members.
Developed over the last four years, the LifeCraft system is formed of a self-propelled inflatable vessel with four engines, as well as a storage and launching unit. The launching unit contains up to four LifeCraft units with the capacity to accommodate 800 people in total.
“Today’s larger and wider vessels mean that the number of passengers and the variation in trim height and list conditions can be enormous in a distress situation,” said Viking vice president Niels Fraende. “The LifeCraft is a hugely flexible evacuation system that can cope with such extremes.”
The LifeCraft also has a specially designed chute system to aid the evacuation of young and elderly passengers, as well as those with disabilities. It also takes up less deck space than lifeboats, enabling ship owners to install more accommodation and onboard facilities.