WaterSave took place 9 August at Port of Poole, UK, bringing cutting-edge knowledge and equipment to water rescue responders with an opportunity to view and participate in on-water demonstrations at the nearby Port of Poole Marina. Organiser, David Lane presents a summary of the day.
Emeritus Chief Fire Officer Roy Harold MBE welcomed all saying, “Water rescue, a time critical tactic, driven by the short duration to safely search for and recover the person(s) at risk of loss of life. Sadly, there have been many recent drowning experience events, some high profile, where ‘Locating’ the person(s) was not possible in the critical timeframe. Tactical improvements in water rescue and small boat SAR are incremental but can have great impact. Today is the opportunity to directly connect with exhibitors and like-minded delegates.”
‘RNLI Float 2022 Floating competency in different water conditions, Final Report.’ Co-author: Adrian Mayhew, Director of Operations SLS GB.
The report1 posed life safety critical questions, including those for “less confident water users” of:
- Can the current float advice be applied by all?
- How can we increase someone’s comprehension, confidence and ability to float effectively?
- Can people apply the float advice in realistic open water settings?
- Is the current float advice as effective for expected and unexpected entry in the water?
These questions are answered by nine ‘Recommendations’, the results of studies conducted in realistic open water settings with less experienced water users including individuals who were not confident in their ability to float. Recommendations that future RNLI “float to live” massages will use.
‘Side Scan Sonar – the new capability’. Barry Parker, Garmin UK and Alex Longworth, SMG Europe Ltd.
Barry introduced the ‘Garmin GPSMAP & LiveScope Plus System’2, a live scanning sonar system with SAR functionalities. Delegates were shown operators can choose a preprogrammed “SAR Route” from the ‘Chart’ page and configure a pattern chosen from a ‘Sector search’, ‘Expanding Square’ or ‘Creeping Parallel line’. This high-resolution live sonar has exceptional target separation. Clear sonar returns displayed on the touch screen with no delays or latency. “Vivid” colour palettes on LiveScope enhances details. Three sonar ‘Modes’ are available: Forward, Down and Perspective mode. “Switching” between modes allow comparison screens to further analyse the data being seen and if the target seen is that which is being sought. The “ActiveCaptain App”, enables the automatic transfer of user data, such as waypoints and routes, enhancing search management.
Alex presented technical information on the ‘Rebelcell’ portable power source together with the innovative ‘Railblaza’ mounting system, emphasising the ‘Railblaza Hexx Live Pole’3.
‘Improving Small Craft SAR Capabilities.’ Mark Pullinger, CEO of Specialist Small Craft. RotoTech Distributor.
Mark is making available in the UK clean fuel and lubrication products and a new type of rescue craft. The ‘RotoTech Kontra’4, used by 451 Rescue Departments around the world! Working closely with rescue markets to develop craft with specific features to best suit operator needs. RotoTech craft have greatly increased storage compared to e.g. conventional IRBs, allowing increased functionality with increased capability, without compromising onboard operational space. Flexibility is improved when using or storing equipment for a mission: airborne drones, underwater ROVs, water pumps supplying fire suppression jets, generator sets, oil spillage kit, medical equipment, flood lighting, welfare space, thermal imaging kit, use as a communication hub, charging stations for kit and rope rescue kit storage – all catered for within this design.
‘L&MPS – Lost and Missing Person Search – update.’ Tom Wright, HM Coastguard (HMCG), Coastal Operations Area Commander.
Tom set out the statutory duty of HMCG for SAR in the littoral area, including the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources to respond to persons either in distress at sea, or to persons at risk of injury or death on the UK’s cliffs or shoreline. Then HMCGs’ UK National structure and coastguard rescue service roles. Giving details of the ‘L&MPS’ framework from a Police Search Governance Board meeting in 2017. Which framework provides common minimum search delivery standards. And told how the framework is implemented by HMCG L&MPS trained roles. Concluding with how Coastguard Rescue Teams are structured for UK’s ‘Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme’.
‘Rescue South Pump Jet – Step Change in Outboard Engine Safety.’ David Lane, Director of Professional Rescue.
This author outlined unguarded propeller hazards: props spin about 1,200 to 3,200 RPM, anyone contacting blades may be hit 60 to 160 times per second. Posing serious dangers to anyone nearby. Further, the hydrodynamic effect may pull someone under the boat. Then unprotected propeller impacts your body, head to toe, in about one tenth of a second. That person has no response time once you have made contact, it’s why propeller-related injuries are often fatal. For rescuers ‘Prop guards/deflectors’ serve two primary purposes of person protection and “staying operational” by protecting propeller and gear box from damage by prop strikes.
However, most leave room for contact of fingers or limbs. The Rescue South Pump Jet5 a retrofitted replacement lower leg for existing outboard engine or part of new outboard engine. Greatly reduces risk, constructed more robustly than prop guards, however no mechanical design in propless propulsion completely eliminate the possibility or risk of injury.
Designed to produce water jet-like nozzle, maximizing thrust and reducing physical effort to control tiller, for higher outboard power and fuel efficiency, giving improved thrust. A technically advanced safer alternative to the open propeller outboard.
‘Water Rescue PPE Inspection – Why an Approved Competent Person Certificate is Needed.’ John Wilcock, CEO Safequip Ltd6.
John presented current UK PPE regulations and their effects on water rescue PPE being ‘fit for purpose’. Asking how does the procurer:
- perceive and discharge those legal requirements for their service?
- avoid the charlatan manufacturer?
- ensure that PPE equipment provided for the “water rescuer at work” is suitable for the intended use?
- safe for use?
- what testing and certification has PPE complied with?
Once purchased what:
- Training is required to maintain PPE in efficient working order and good repair?
- are the inspection and maintenance regimes?
- Are the Product and Lifespans of the items?
Manufacturers’ have maintenance schedules and instructions needing following, otherwise PPE may become non-functional and place the wearer’s life at risk. Are these processes and examinations carried out by appropriately trained staff?
Concluding that for safety and to answer all questions, for ‘Water Rescue PPE Inspection’ an ‘Approved Competent Person Certificate’, acquired by accredited training is needed.
‘Electric Propulsion Systems.’ Steve Bruce, MD ePropulsion UK Ltd.
Starting a dialogue on the use of electric marine propulsion systems for water rescue. Steve gave background to ePropulsion7, over a decade, the company has achieved global recognition for superior product quality and innovation, sales making it the world’s second-largest electric outboard brand. ePropulsion’s environmentally friendly electric motors outperform traditional engines in terms of cleanliness, efficiency, intelligence, minimal maintenance with immediate torque delivery – crucial in rescue scenarios. To Steve’s satisfaction, delegates taking the onboard “tasting opportunity”, expressed huge interest in the compact electric outboard.
‘FIFISH Underwater Robot.’ Matthew Langham, Technical Director Mantsbrite Marine Electronics.
Matthew introduced FIFISH SAR350, an industrial-grade underwater ROV platform, depth rating of 350m, equipped with patented ‘6 Q-motor’ system, with greater battery capacity saving, stronger power, more stable fight-current performance. And innovative modular design interfaces which enable the rapid replacement of parts or the switching of accessories with different functions and executing various tasks efficiently and precisely. With a “Station Lock” algorithm that can lock the ROV’s position underwater. You can add-on 2D/3D image sonar for inspections under dark waters.
With a Software and Hardware eco-system which can provide the real-time FIFISH ROV location, POI recording, three-dimensional diving path recording, and one-kick to return POI. With many innovative functions, demonstrated later to delighted delegates allowed ‘hands-on’.
‘Maren Fasty – Remote-Controlled Water-Rescue Vehicle and AquaEye Mobile SAR Sonar’. Marc Hersberger, Vogt-CTE GmbH, Switzerland.
Marc detailed company Vogt-CTE GmbH8 and its relationship with UK Distributors Angloco9. The capabilities of ‘Maren Fasty’ from Maren robotics, an intuitive, remote-controlled or self-propelled rescue swimming robot, developed and manufactured in Europe. This remote-controlled rescue buoy reaches speeds to 15 km/h, enabling fast rescue with numerous additional functionalities.
Onto ‘AquaEye’, a portable rescue sonar for water rescue. An advanced underwater scanner using the latest sonar technology with artificial intelligence to identify human bodies underwater and in waters with poor visibility. ‘AquaEye’ is the first search and rescue product of its kind. Later the ‘Maren Fasty’ and ‘AquaEye’ created huge interest particularly when delegates and the on-water safety Rescue Technicians were able to try the equipment ‘hands-on’.
Afternoon Demonstrations
Post roundtable discussions, lunch and exhibition viewing; everyone decamped to nearby Port of Poole Marina for demonstrations of simulated SAR scenarios, including finding underwater Ruth Lee10 manikins.
On return to Centre, after networking and summaries; Roy thanked everyone sincerely for attending and workshops closed.
References:
1 RNLI Float 2022 Floating competency in different water conditions, Final Report. 17th October 2022.
2 www.smgeurope.com/garmin-gpsmap-923xsv-chartplotter-sonar.html
3 www.smgeurope.com/leisure/railblaza-hexx-live-pole-60-live-sonar-transducer-mount.html
4 www.specialistsmallcraft.co.uk/collections/vendors?q=Roto-Tech
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