On Friday 29th August, the first MES deployment test was conducted from the brand new build “Spirit of Tasmania 4” which recently arrived in Tasmania.
The MES installed on each vessel consists of 4 x 22m MES (22 metre inflatable evacuation slide with a 100-person SOLAS B liferaft attached) plus an additional 16 x 100-person Self Righting Liferafts resulting in a total liferaft capacity of 2000 persons. The complete MES and Liferafts were manufactured and operationally packed at the Liferaft Systems Australia production facility in Hobart, Australia then shipped to Rauma, Finland for installation at the RMC Shipyard.
The MES deployment in Hobart was witnessed by Flag State Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Classification Society Lloyds Register who were suitably impressed by the performance of the MES and the simplicity of the operation. A number of Spirit of Tasmania crew completed a MES training program the previous day conducted by LSA Technical Manager Mr Rob Lewis and the following day the crew actually deployed both MES and the associated Link Liferaft without any issues whatsoever. The crew then descended the slide to familiarise themselves with all aspects of the MES performance.
The deployment was considered a huge success by all who attended and the equipment was removed from the vessel then transported to LSA production facility where it will be cleaned and operationally packed prior to re-installation on board. LSA expect to complete the same test when “Spirit of Tasmania 5” arrives in Hobart later this year or early next year.