New VIKING LifeCraft, VEC PlusTM evacuation solution and lifejackets showcased at Seatrade
By
Rebecca Gibson |
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment showcased three new safety solutions for cruise operators at Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 13-16 March 2017.
Exhibiting at Stand 835, VIKING demonstrated the flagship VIKING LifeCraft hybrid evacuation and survival craft system, which will officially launch soon alongside the accompanying LifeCraft storage and launch unit. The LifeCraft combines the advantages of modern lifeboats, such as self-propelled manoeuvrability, with the flexibility, comfort and smaller footprint of liferafts.
VIKING also promoted its new VEC PlusTM evacuation solution, which is an upgrade of its existing high-capacity marine evacuation systems (MES).
“With more than 1,300 MES systems in operation, we’ve gained unparalleled experience when it comes to their operational and servicing lifecycle,” said Niels Fraende, director of VIKING’s Passenger Division. “Recently, we re-examined every aspect of today’s evacuation solutions, cutting down the number of components and introducing new access and servicing methods.”
The new VIKING PV9522 SOLAS Lifejacket was also on display at Seatrade. Available for adults, children and infants, the lifejacket has a crescent-shaped design so it fits passengers ergonomically and allows them to move easily when swimming gin an emergency. The compact lifejacket can also be quickly repacked and stored in a small space when it is not in use.
“The PV9522 comes with a host of ingenious features. For example, the traditional crotch strap is redundant by design, significantly reducing the time and crew resources needed for repacking lifejackets after muster drills,” said Soren Hansen, global product manager for Personal Protective Equipment at VIKING. “Also, with single buckle operation and just one extended instant-adjustment strap, the lifejacket is extremely easy to put on and will fit passengers of any size,”