Page 46: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2005)

46 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

Gelcoat Patch to Improve Repairs

A new "Ultimate Patch Booster PL 604-2" additive from Ferro Corporation is designed to improve the application, appearance and longevity of gelcoat repairs. The new additive causes the components that primarily affect gelcoat appearance to concentrate on the surface exposed to air, instead of the surface against the mold. To compensate for the relatively thin application of gelcoat sprayed over repairs, it also forms an air barrier that retards evaporation of VOCs until the gelcoat surface has leveled-out and the gelcoat molecules have fully cross-linked.

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New Sailor VHF Radio

Thrane & Thrane introduced its new VHF radio — the Sailor RT5022 — that offers a number of new features. It has built-in DSC (Digital

Selective Calling) Class A. The Sailor RT5022 comes with a new replay feature that allows the operator to repeat an incoming message in case the operator did not understand the message in the first instance, a valuable safety tool. To enhance ease-of-use, the Sailor

RT5022 has been simplified and the functionalities most often used are operated by large tactile buttons and knobs and a large separate display.

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Stearns VR Rescue Vests

The Stearns VR Versatile Rescue Vest combines excellent buoyancy, strong construction and durable materials with overall comfort and flexibility.

Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, the vest is designed especially for use by fire departments, public safety units, and search and rescue operations.

The Model I650 VR Rescue Vest provides up to 25 lbs. of buoyancy, extra shock protection, a rugged 420

Denier nylon pack cloth shell for strength and durabil- ity, and a soft 200 Denier nylon liner for comfort. The bright red outer shell is designed for daytime visibility, while SOLAS-grade 6755 3M Scotchlite Reflective

Material on the front and back makes it easy to spot at night. The vest's thin, low profile design adds cush- ioning while permitting unrestricted freedom of move- ment and a chest pad that covers the front split when the vest is worn. The Stearns VR can easily be cus- tomized for the best fit by quickly adjusting four front straps, a waist belt and crotch straps that prevent the vest from riding up, and by modifying the stainless steel hardware in the elastic shoulders.

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New Rescue Boat in NorMar Range

Norwegian Maritime Equipment AS extended its range of rescue boats with a small model designed for outboard propulsion. The boat, denominated Normar 425, is a GRP rescue boat with a capacity of six persons. It measures 14 x 6 ft. (4.25 x 1.84 m) and weighs 697 lbs. (316 kg), excluding engine and fuel.

The stability of the boat is ensured by the particular design, as the outer and inner hulls are shaped in sepa- rate mold, then connected to shape the seats and buoy- ancy tanks. The buoyancy tank provides sufficient buoyancy to float the boat at flooded condition with all persons onboard. The boat can be delivered with or without engine, and has a full SOLAS and BV-EC approval.

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Safer Lifeboats

Survival Craft Inspectorate Ltd. of Aberdeen,

U.K., announced the installation of its 400th

Safelaunch lifeboat release hook mechanism since the product was launched last year. The unit design was introduced in early 2004 and was devel- oped to eliminate the risks that ships' crews and off- shore platform workers face when entering lifeboats during drills and routine maintenance. Safelaunch release hook mechanisms provide a visual assurance that the boat is safely secured before being entered.

An improved release cam mechanism is designed to provide superior contact between engaged components and is believed to be more robust and less vulnerable to critical tolerances, misuse or neglect.

Each Safelaunch release hook features a color-coded indicator that shows the status of the release cam and can be seen from outside the boat. Survival Craft

Inspectorate designers also introduced a through hook locking pin that guarantees positive safety during maintenance and boarding drills.

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New Cold Water Immersion Suit

The Cold Water Immersion Suit from Stearns meets or exceeds the new 2006 mandate from the

International Maritime Organization, requiring marine shipping operations to provide this type of life-saving outerwear for everyone aboard a vessel that is operat- ing in cold waters.

The Model 1590 suit is made with 5mm stretchable, fire retardant neoprene that provides high-performance protection against hypothermia.

The Model I590 suit comes in bright international orange and provides a generous fit in all sizes for easy donning in emergencies.

The suit covers the wearer from head to foot, includ- ing a face shield for spray protection, insulated five- finger gloves, inflatable head support, ankle and wrist adjustments for a snug fit, and durable non-slip soles.

Other important features include a handy pocket for approved flashlights, SOLAS-grade 3150 PS 3M

Scotchlite Reflective Material, and a SOLAS whistle.

The suit comes in four sizes to fit children from 39 in. tall weighing 44 lbs. to adults over 75 in. tall weighing up to 375 lbs. Each suit also comes in its own color- coded storage bag for easy size determination.

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Kelvin Hughes S-VDR

Kelvin Hughes installed its first fully approved

S-VDR onboard vessels belonging to

Singapore's World-Wide Shipping.

Although the equipment meets and exceeds the requirements of IMO Performance Standard - MSC 163(78) for Simplified Voyage Data Recorders, Kelvin

Hughes offer a number of options which further enhance the performance and operational capability including a communications package with the ability to provide remote diagnostics of on board equipment per- formance.

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