The RNLI will be equipping all its Shannon Class fleet with SeaSafe’s Hypo Hoist – a major endorsement for their proprietary MOB recovery system and a significant order for the Cowes based sea safety clothing and equipment manufacturer.
Recipient of multiple awards, including ‘US Coast Guard Award for Maritime Safety’, Hypo Hoist was designed to rescue a conscious or unconscious person from the water and back onto the safety of a vessel, whilst minimising risk and injury to the casualty; an important attribute being that it can be deployed by just one person, a key factor in a lightly crewed craft.
Since its launch in 2006 it has been widely sold to harbour organisations, marine police, superyacht owners, independent inshore lifeboat operations, ferry owners, yacht clubs, yacht owners and oil spill response specialists, but SeaSafe admit the RNLI order represents a highly significant seal of approval for Hypo Hoist; Jeremy Dale, managing director, commenting, “We are delighted that, following rigorous and extensive testing, the entire Shannon Class lifeboat fleet will be equipped with Hypo Hoist.
“It’s well known that lifting an MOB vertically can cause a rapid drop in blood pressure, greatly increasing the chances of cardiac failure and neurological malfunctions, but Hypo Hoist significantly reduces such risks – and the potential problems caused by the effects of immersion hypothermia – by recovering the casualty in a constant horizontal position during and after recovery, and we believe this was a key factor in the RNLI’s decision to adopt it.”
The main component of Hypo Hoist is its dual function cradle, which can be used to either hoist and roll the MOB up the freeboard, level with the deck and back onto the craft, or to operate as a boarding ladder with hand holds to allow quick and easy access back onto the vessel.
For more information on Hypo Hoist call SeaSafe on 01983 282388 or visit their website: www.seasafe.co.uk.
SeaSafe today is recognised as ‘the one-stop resource’ for marine safety products for both professional mariners and recreational sailors, with product ranges designed specifically for each sector.