A specialist system to rescue crew members who fall overboard has been developed by boat builder Goodchild Marine Services.
The Man Overboard Recovery Platform (MOB) has been designed to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest in anyone that has fallen overboard by lifting the casualty horizontally rather than vertically.
“This has become one of our bestselling products with widespread interest in the UK and abroad,” said Alan Goodchild, Goodchild Marine MD.
“Key features include an automatically-hinged propeller guard to prevent injury to the casualty, manual back-up and self-cleaning tracks.
“There’s also an extension below water level to aid the recovery of a floating casualty.”
Eleven platforms have been built so far, with six fitted onto Goodchild Marine-built vessels.
The system is also built on to Goodchild Marine’s new ORC 136 pilot boat for Estuary Services.
Others have been sold and exported overseas, as far afield as Australia, with the system becoming one of the company’s leading products.
The product is tested and certified for lifting three people and can be lifted to deck level for easy stretcher access.
It can be fitted to existing boats or incorporated into a new design.
It complies with current legislation, the latest medical guidelines in survivor recovery and can be operated by a single person.