GEAR | Large inflatable lifeboat for cruise ships secures Lloyd’s Register type approval

Survitec’s large inflatable lifeboat is now ready to be installed on cruise ships after having received full type approval certification from classification society Lloyd’s Register.

Certification follows the successful the completion of heavy weather sea trials (HWST) in December. All environmental and physical testing was concluded in April as defined by Lloyd’s Register Type Approval.

Survitec said the design is unique in that it is the first lifeboat to have completed an exhaustive reliability testing programme that exceeds the mandatory testing requirements set out by SOLAS.

The 1,060-capacity inflatable lifeboat solution takes all the safety features associated with a conventional lifeboat and MES arrangement. Survitec said that, with the compact design and higher evacuation capability, up to 85 per cent of cruise ship deck space is freed up.

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