World's largest evacuation system tested
MARITIME INDUSTRY: 225 people dressed in black jackets and life jackets climbed a very steep ladder in Esbjerg Harbour. At the end of the ladder a 14-meter rescue slide tube was placed which the participants jumped into without hesitation- one by one.
The capacity test of the world's largest evacuation system for cruise vessels by Viking Life-Saving Equipment last Friday in Esbjerg Harbour Pier 1 went fast. Participants were a heterogeneous crowd from all over Denmark. The age of 18 was the only denominator. That is how reality on board a ship is like, and the authorities are testing under such circumstances.
As the ships become bigger, demands for security equipment is also rising. Modern cruise ships can hold up to 8.000 people and they must be able to evacuate in 30 min or less - according to the international 'Safety Of Life A Sea' (SOLAS) regulations.
The aim of the test was to evacuate 700 people in less than 30 minutes and they were more than successful. So Viking's evacuation systems can now swagger about being the world's largest.
Source: maritimedanmark.dk
