Esvagt news 1 2010

Page 1

NO. 1. 2010. SAFETY & SUPPORT AT SEA

FRB 15C is - finally - SOLAS approved It has taken a year, but now ESVAGT’s latest version of the FRB is finally approved according to SOLAS' newest regulations.

With the SOLAS approval, ESVAGT is now able to use the FRB as man-over-board boat for own employees. Nobody knows exactly how long time 'ages' is. A good guess is that it is about as much time as it takes to get an FRB SOLAS approved. That is certainly the feeling in ESVAGT after - finally – having received the approval of ESVAGT’s rescue boat, FRB 15C, approved according to SOLAS regulations: - It has taken almost a year and it has been a long and challenging time, says Ole Ditlev Nielsen, COO of ESVAGT. SOLAS is an international regulatory framework, which sets minimum requirements for the machines, workplaces and envi-

ronments that people must work in. The rules are OK, and ESVAGT is fine with that. But: - The requirements are very specific and strict, but they are not all relevant to us. For example, there is a fire test in which the hull must be able to handle a direct flame for 40 seconds without it burning or bubbling up and we could only cope with 38.4 seconds. One can then discuss the relevance of just that test in a boat that is used in water - but that is how it is, says Ole Ditlev Nielsen.

Not only are requirements specific. Many of them are also so new that The Danish Institute of Fire Technology e.g. first had to find out how to conduct the test. California sun! Meanwhile, ESVAGT’s FRB had to go to the solarium: - Prior to the fire test the hull should be exposed to what is compared to California sunlight for 90 days. Sunlight has a destructive effect on materials, which is why we had to carry out that test, says Ole Ditlev Nielsen. Continues page 2.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.