Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

Lending a helping hand AP Companies has created a wide range of new services to help cruise operators protect guests and crew against Covid-19 and manage medical emergencies For years, international medical assistance company AP Companies has delivered effective and cost-efficient medical assistance and third-party administrator support to major cruise line companies via a comprehensive network of contracted medical facilities around the world. Now, with cruise operations slowly resuming in the wake of the pandemic, it is offering a wide range of Covid-19 management services. AP Companies provides a global supply of pre-travel PCR tests for crew and passengers that can be taken at home, at walk-in laboratories or onboard the ships. It can also arrange vaccinations for crew members based in the USA, as well as for antigen tests and professional swabbers and/or medical staff to be sent to different ports to help cruise lines expedite guest testing before embarkation. In addition, AP Companies can assist with evacuation and repatriation efforts, as well as Covid-19 medical case management (such as hospitalisations or hotel quarantines) in ports of call. A safe escape Liferaft Systems Australia’s new LSA SAFE system self-inflates and is ready for people to board within less than one minute, helping ship operators to expedite emergency evacuations Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) has launched a single activation fast evacuation system – named LSA SAFE – for lower freeboard and passenger-only vessels. Small, lightweight and compact, LSA SAFE is easy to install on a ship and incorporates a mini slide with an open reversible life raft with capacity for either 128 or 150 people. In an emergency, LSA SAFE can be automatically deployed by a single crew member from the bridge or marine evacuation station. It self-inflates and automatically bowses into position, meaning it is ready for people to board in less than one minute. LSA SAFE is currently targeted at the ferry market in North America, where it has passed US Coast Guard approval and has approval pending from Transport Canada. The company is also in the process of getting LSA SAFE fully type approved so it can be sold worldwide, which it anticipates doing by early 2022 at the latest. WORLDWIDE RELIABLE SERVICE FROM QUALIFIED ENGINEERS At A&M Defence & Marine we provide: •Statutory annual inspections and five year tests for: - Lifting appliances and tackle - Height safety - Means of access •Technical advice and solutions •Software to manage record keeping to achieve statutory compliance •Training in height safety and lifting and rigging •Supply of compliant lifting equipment Don’t hesitate to contact us: marine@am-dmservices.co.uk +44 (0)1202812488 www.amdefencemarine.co.uk