QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

HERE ARE ANSWERS TO THE COMMON QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED ABOUT THE QUIKSLING RECOVERY SYSTEM.

 

 

Q. So what is this equipment best for?
A. IT EXCELS AT REMOTE CAPTURE AND FULL RAPID RECOVERY OF A CONSCIOUS PERSON, OVERBOARD IN HEAVY SWELL.

 

Q. Is the system CE marked?
A. THE LOOSE LIFTING GEAR IS CE MARKED. QUIKSLING IS NOT CE MARKED AS NO STANDARDS EXIST THAT CAN BE USED TO TEST IT AGAINST. A NEW TEST PROTOCOL HAD TO FIRST BE CREATED BY LLOYDS IN ORDER TO TEST THE QUIKSLING FOR TYPE APPROVAL.

 

 

Will our Authority allow us to carry it?
A. TO DATE, MCA, DMA AND NMA ACCEPT THE QUIKSLING FOR CARRIAGE - AS EXTRA LIFE-SAVING MOB EQUIPMENT.

 

Q. How heavy is it?
A. THROWING WEIGHT IS 3.3 KGS. THE FRAME IS SOFT ON IMPACT, TO AVOID INJURY. 

Q. How far can you throw it?
A. AVERAGE THROW AT LLOYDS TESTS WAS 12M.

Q. Does it work upside down?
A. ABSOLUTELY, THE TWO SLINGS JUST INVERT. BEST TO BE THE RIGHT WAY UP THOUGH, SO INSTRUCT.

Q. Will it work in bad weather?
A. IT IS FREE-FLOATING SO CAN WORK IN ANY WEATHER.

 

Q. You say a person can be captured away from the boat?
A. YES. YOU CAN SECURE THEM UP TO 10 METRES AWAY.    

Q. So it will be fast then...no need for anything else?  
A. NO. JUST CATCH THEM AND BRING THEM ABOARD.                                                                                                                                                      

 

Q. Can it be reused?  
A. OF COURSE. JUST RESET IT AND CAST IT OUT AGAIN.

 

                                                     

Q. Is it suitable for unconscious recovery?
A. YES. IT IS A DEVICE TO RECOVER A PERSON VERY FAST BEFORE THEY FALL UNCONSCIOUS BUT IT HAS BEEN FULLY TESTED AND APPROVED BY LLOYD'S FOR ASSISTED RECOVERY OF A HELPLESS PERSON BY A RESCUE SWIMMER.

 

Q. Will inspectors accept a plan for assisted recovery?

A. YES: IF THERE IS A RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX IN PLACE AND A WELL-DRILLED RESCUE PROCEDURE, WITH ALL IDENTIFIED RISKS MITIGATED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL, THAT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED TO WORK WELL. 

 

OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS:

FOR ASSISTED RECOVERY, WE RECOMMEND CARRIAGE OF AT LEAST ONE VIKING POLAR CODE 6HR RATED GALE IMMERSION SUIT WITH BUILT-IN BUOYANCY PACK ON THE BACK: LEAVING THE FRONT UNIMPEDED FOR A FAST-WORKING RESCUE SWIMMER. WITH NO NEED FOR A LIFEJACKET, IT WILL BE FAST TO DONN IN AN EMERGENCY AND BEING DOUBLE QUILTED, IT WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SAFETY FOR A RESCUE SWIMMER IN ARCTIC WATERS.

 

Q. The kit has been well thought out. Have you sold many?
A. FROM THE ORIGINAL IDEA TO GETTING ITS SAFETY CERTIFICATE TOOK MANY YEARS OF SUSTAINED EFFORT BUT AFTER VISITING SOME FISHING PORTS, HUNDREDS OF VESSELS NOW CARRY QUIKSLING AS EXTRA LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT FOR MOB RECOVERY AT SEA.

Q. Why is it so expensive?
A.  THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT IN LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION AND IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED LIFESAVING SYSTEM TO MANUFACTURE: THE OPERATING SYSTEM IS REQUIRED TO HAVE TENSION INTERACTION AND IT IS VERY LABOUR INTENSIVE TO MAKE ALL THE BITS THAT MAKE IT WORK. INTERNALLY, THE CLOSED CELL FOAM FRAME HAS TO BE HEAT PROOFED INSIDE THE FIRE RESISTANT JACKET COVER. ALTHOUGH IT IS MAINLY CONSTRUCTED FROM FABRICS, IT PASSES THE SOLAS FIRE TEST. ALL MATERIALS ARE TOP QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY TESTED.

BUT THE VALUE OF ITS SOPHISTICATED CONSTRUCTION TO YOU IS THAT IT CAN BE CAST OUT INTO A HEAVY SEA AND WITH LITTLE EFFORT, SAVE A CREWMEMBER'S LIFE. 

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Q. Do any vessels carry two?
A. YES. THE LARGE PELAGIC TRAWLERS OFTEN CARRY TWO. ONE INSTALLED FORWARD AND ANOTHER AFT: FOR FASTER ACCESS TO THE KIT AND TWICE THE CAPABILITY.                                                                                

Q. Does it come with instructions?

YES. IT COMES WITH INSTRUCTION BOOKLETS FOR THE CREW MEMBERS PLUS GRAPHIC STEP-BY-STEP PICTORIAL INSTRUCTION A4 CARDS THAT COVER DEPLOYMENT OPERATIONS AND THE RELOADING PROCESS. INSPECTION AND EXERCISE LOG SHEETS ARE ALSO INCLUDED, AS WELL AS A USB PLUG-IN CONTAINING SOME VIDEO FOOTAGE. 

 

Q. What servicing is required?                    
A. THERE ARE NO GAS CANNISTERS OR INFLATABLE PARTS TO SERVICE. FLOTATION IS PROVIDED BY CLOSED CELL FOAM. WATER-ACTIVATED LIGHTS TO BE REPLACED EVERY 5 YEARS AND AN ANNUAL CERTIFIED VISUAL INSPECTION IS REQUIRED. ANY DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS FOUND MUST BE REPLACED.      

                                                                                                   

Q. Who will carry out this inspection?
A. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CARRY THIS OUT REMOTELY WITH ASSISTANCE OF A COMPETENT CREW MEMBER. OUR VISUAL INSPECTION CHECKLIST IS COMPLETED VIA INSTRUCTION AND PHOTO MEDIA. ONCE WE ARE SATISFIED THAT A THOROUGH VISUAL INSPECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITH NO DEFECTS FOUND, WE CAN ISSUE YOUR ANNUAL CERTIFICATE.

Q. How long does it take to get one?
A. WE ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE STOCK IN HAND, READY TO SHIP OUT. SHOULD WE BE OUT OF STOCK, WE WILL GIVE YOU A LEAD TIME FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR PREMISES.                    

 

 

 

 

 

These answers are given to provide our opinion only, but with fullest understanding of the difficulties of MOB recovery in bad weather and following actual experience of using all equipment mentioned, at sea.

 

Please feel free to submit any other question using the Contact page.