Combination offshore survival suit is shortlisted for Seatrade Award

A combined helicopter and immersion suit with integrated lifejacket developed by VIKING has been shortlisted for the ‘Safety at Sea’ category of the 2006 Seatrade Awards

VIKING’s PS4173 suit eliminates the need to change from helicopter suit to immersion suit on arrival at offshore platforms. It is also the first and only suit of its kind that protects against ‘suspension-induced shock syndrome’ when hoisting survivors from the water.

Once on the platform, this 2-in-1 approved helicopter transportation suit is transformed into an approved self-turning immersion suit simply by screwing the inflation mechanism with the bobbin into the automatic inflation system.

Suspension-induced shock syndrome can occur when a person with hypothermia is raised from a horizontal position in the water into an upright position, which happens when hoisting them with a traditional helicopter sling. When the body begins to cool down, its survival mechanism retains warm blood in the torso to protect the vital inner organs, and therefore reduces circulation to the limbs. Raising a hypothermic person upright causes warm blood to flow down into the legs, and cold blood is sent into circulation. When the cold blood reaches the heart it can cause a fatal cardiac arrest. The lifting becket on VIKING’s PS4137 suit is the first to ensure a horizontal lifting position when evacuating from water.

The prestigious Seatrade Awards have been promoting improvements in maritime standards since 1989 by recognising achievement and innovation within the international maritime industry. Preliminary judging for the 2006 Seatrade Awards was held on 15 February. The judges will select the award winners in each category on 10 April, and presentations will be made that evening at the Awards Ceremony Dinner at Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace, London.