Buyer's Guide to Immersion Suits
04 November 2005
To bring attention to the long term implications of new SOLAS immersion suit regulations for cargo ships sailing in cold climates, and to help ship operators make informed purchasing decisions, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has published the 'Buyer's Guide to Immersion Suits'. By the summer of 2006 some 35,000 cargo ships normally carrying just three immersion suits will need to have suits for the total number of people the ship is licensed to carry as well as extra suits placed in remote locations. However many customers are unsure about what the new SOLAS regulations entail and how they will be affected. So VIKING has just published a buyer's guide, subtitled: 'Questions to ask your immersion suit supplier - and questions to ask yourself.'
"We want to help customers make an informed decision based on facts, so they have a real choice," said Jorgen Holm, VIKING's global sales manager for cargo ships. "Many of them haven't considered in advance the long-term consequences of a purchase. And, for example, some don't seem to know the difference between immersion suits of Neoprene and PU coated Nylon outer materials. We manufacture both types so we can provide the advice needed to choose between them."
"We have collected the most common questions we get asked by customers. The answers in the guide therefore provide the most important information needed to make an informed decision about investing in immersion suits." The questions include:
- What about long-term costs?
- Which immersion suits are right for you?
- What should you look for in an immersion suit?
- Why not just choose the cheapest immersion suit?
- What happens when immersion suits need to be serviced?
- What about logistics?
- What happens if you have different brands on board?
From 1 July 2006, immersion suits must be provided for every person on board according to the ship's manning instructions. Before Resolution MSC 152(78) was adopted in May 2004, normally only three suits were needed, for the 'man overboard' boat crew. Additionally, if a ship has any watch or work stations away from the locations where immersion suits are normally stowed, extra suits need to be provided in these areas. VIKING anticipates that the amendment will affect some 35,000 vessels, although immersion suits are deemed unnecessary if a ship spends all its time in warm climates.
"We're talking about hundreds of thousands of new immersion suits," said Jorgen Holm. "We are encouraging ship owners to start ordering now. If they leave it too late they may see a delivery problem for certain suits. Ordering now ensures a variety of suits to choose from."
"VIKING can offer a complete range of Neoprene and PU coated Nylon immersion suits to meet the demands of all our customers," Mr Holm said. "We have looked at the market and designed our product range and prices according to these requirements. We can help design a package to suit particular needs including customised logistics and servicing packages for larger fleets."
