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11 Main Personal Life-Saving Appliances Used Onboard Ship

They say safety is not just a rule, it is a culture to live by. Ship and marine safety have always been an integral part of a seaman’s life. Adhering to safety compliances renders safety of people and is the primary concern of all shipbuilders, manufacturers, and service providers.

To this end, several personal life-saving appliances are used on ships to protect the lives of all sailors on board. These include:

  • Safety helmet

A safety helmet is one of the most imperative personal lifesaving equipment used on the ship. It is generally made of hard plastic and can be fastened under the chin. It can protect the sailors from cranial injuries during storms or rough weather.

  • Safety Shoes

Emergencies or even adverse weather conditions can make moving around the ship difficult. Safety shoes come into play by preventing Slips and Falls, protecting feet from punctures, falling objects, electrical hazards and cold or wet floors.  

  • Safety Hand Gloves

The crew uses various types of gloves while maintaining machinery and handling cargo on ships. The crew has to protect their hands from hot and rough surfaces, chemicals, abrasive material, and other substances. This requires gloves with insulation, chemical resistance, and fire-resistance.

  • Goggles

Ship maintenance includes various processes such as welding, machining, etc. Also, the constant reflective glare from the sea can damage the eyes. Hence, different types of goggles protect the crew members’ eyes from damage.

  • Ear Muffs/Plugs

The engine of large ships and cargo carriers produce high levels of sound (approx 110-120 dB). Constant exposure to this kind of noise level can permanently damage the hearing of sailors. Therefore, seamen must wear earmuffs or earplugs to protect themselves from auditory damage.

  • Safety harness

The safety harness is used to strap the crew member in safely, as routine ship inspection and maintenance measures are carried out at elevated heights. The harness is tied to a fixed point at one end and is used in conjunction with shock absorbers to reduce the impact if necessary.

  • Fire and Immersion Suit

As the name suggests, fire and immersion suits protect the wearer in case of fires at sea. Immersion suits are generally made completely of rubber, specifically neoprene and help the person stay afloat without exposing any part of the person’s body to the sea. They are also bright in colour, fluorescent reds and oranges making it easy to spot them from a distance.

  • Life rafts

Life rafts are primary life-saving devices mandated on ships. With an expectant accommodation capacity of 120% of the ship’s passengers, they are useful when the ship capsizes or for short journeys away from ships. They are mostly self-inflatable and easy to launch in case of an emergency.

  • Lifebuoys

A lifebuoy is usually a ring-shaped personal safety device which protects a person from drowning at sea. Made of rubber, the personal flotation device is bright in colour and available in different sizes for different age groups.

  • Life jackets

Life jackets are an important personal life-saving device that has been used by seafarers since ages. The design of lifejackets has developed over the years, with the current design being polyester stuffed with foam cubes. Life jackets fit the wearer snugly and prevent him/her from drowning when inflated, based on the principle of buoyancy.

  • Marine Distress Signals

Marine distress signals include line throwers, man-overboard light and smoke signals, parachute rockets, and other buoyant smoke signals. These signals indicate that the person or the ship require external aid.

These are 11 principal personal life-saving appliances that are essential for ships. Ship and lifejacket manufacturers and liferaft service providers in India, like SHM Shipcare, provide quality life-saving devices, to make safe seas and safe shores a reality.

 

Personal Life-Saving Appliances

              Life-Saving accessories manufactured by SHM Group

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