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| Australian Cape Class Patrol Boats Fitted
with SURVITECZODIAC LIFESAVING TECHNOLOGY |
The first in a fleet of 8 Cape Class patrol boats has been fitted with advanced mini escape slides and liferafts from
SurvitecZodiac. The Cape St George was launched at the Austal yard in Henderson, West Australia in January and has now
been delivered to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service after fit-out and trials. All eight of the advanced,
state-of-the-art aluminum patrol boats are scheduled for delivery by August 2015.
Each of the vessels will be equipped with 2 x 3.2-metre SurvitecZodiac small inflatable slide systems (SIS), 4 x 50 person
throw-over liferafts plus an additional 2 x 25 person capacity liferafts. All SurvitecZodiac liferafts meet Australian
regulations, with each one carrying a specific first-aid kit and an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).
The patrol boats will also be fitted with a SurvitecZodiac RIBO 450 davit-launched rescue boat which has been manufactured
in orange neoprene.
SurvitecZodiac marine escape systems are designed for rapid deployment with the liferafts being launched remotely from the
bridge of the vessel. Following the launch of the liferafts, mini escape slides are then deployed to create immediate access
to the waiting liferafts so passengers and crew can evacuate the boat extremely quickly. Small inflatable slides have been
developed by SurvitecZodiac specifically for use on high speed and low-freeboard vessels to eliminate the slow alternative
of descending a short ladder into the liferaft. Because the escape slides are comparatively small, ropes attached to their
side tubes can enable people to climb back up them into the boat if the opportunity arises.
The inflatable components of the entire system are manufactured from welded polyurethane fabric. Over 20-years of experience
have enabled SurvitecZodiac to perfect the welding technology that ensures all inflatable chambers are exceptionally strong
and resistant to adverse environmental conditions. By avoiding the inconsistencies inherent in hand glueing fabric, customers
benefit from the quality assurance that enables the rescue systems to resist the effects of extreme heat and humidity.
The SurvitecZodiac marine evacuation systems fitted aboard the Cape St George were tested successfully in February. The next
system is scheduled for delivery in March 2014 with further deliveries taking place every three months until June 2015.
SurvitecZodiac is an innovator in rescue system technology and last year it introduced the world’s first automatic escape
slide, which is designed for use on vessels with small crews, can be easily activated by a button on the bridge when it is
inflated and made ready for passenger evacuation without any crew input.
SurvitecZodiac is a leading marine brand within the Survitec Group portfolio and since its foundations, has established a
distinctive reputation, earning recognition throughout the global marketplace for product performance and quality of design.
Its French manufacturing heritage and continued manufacture in Chevanceaux, helps maintain SurvitecZodiac’s position at the
forefront of maritime survival technology.
For more information on the Survitec Group and SurvitecZodiac products and services, please visit
www.survitecgroup.com or www.surviteczodiac.com |
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