News

November 2007
REVOLUTIONARY NEW LIFEJACKET LAUNCHED AT METS

The first totally inflatable lifejacket to provide two levels of buoyancy is being launched at METS by International Safety Products Ltd (ISP) of Bootle, UK. (Stand No. 03.415 ). The Challenger Convertible lifejacket has been developed to provide wearers with the ability to adjust its degree of inflation to cope with sea conditions and the weight of equipment being worn. This means that a mariner can use the same lifejacket in an emergency when sailing in light clothing in tropical waters or when weighed down with heavy weather gear in colder latitudes or in worse weather conditions.

When it is first inflated, the new Challenger Convertible will provide 150 Newtons of buoyancy. This will lift the wearer’s mouth approximately 12 cm clear of the water which is generally adequate for someone in light clothing and relatively calm conditions. Higher rates of buoyancy can make it difficult for the wearer to swim and almost impossible to get into a life raft so the 150 Newton category is recognised as the default level. However, if the user is wearing heavy clothing, carrying tools or is in rough water, more buoyancy may be needed. The Challenger Convertible consequently features a separate bladder that can be inflated orally by just a few breaths from the wearer. This increases the lifejacket’s buoyancy from 150 to 275 Newtons which lifts the wearer’s mouth 18 cm clear of the water. This 50 per cent improvement is a major safety benefit that will increase the wearer’s chances of survival in extreme conditions.

Normal Wear

The extra inflation will, however, make rescue difficult and it may be almost impossible for the wearer to enter a life raft when under duress. The Challenger Convertible consequently enables the user to quickly release the additional air and return the lifejacket to 150 Newtons of buoyancy for boarding or rescue.

150N Inflation		275N Inflation

Users of the Challenger Convertible will also benefit from an earlier ISP innovation of interlocking lobes. The inflated bladders of the lifejacket are asymmetrical and interlock across the wearer’s chest. This feature was invented by ISP to eliminate the problem experienced by wearers of ordinary lifejackets in rough seas when water tends to be channelled between the lobes and directly into the wearer’s face. This can cause the wearer to drown, despite being fully conscious and wearing a life jacket.
 
International Safety Products Ltd is the world’s leading manufacturer of inflatable marine lifejackets which it mostly designs and manufactures for sale under other famous brand names. The company has consequently been responsible for a number of pioneering innovations in lifejacket design that have advanced the evolution of this essential safety aid. The Challenger range is ISP’s own exclusive brand which is aimed professional seafarers or serious leisure users seeking a lifejacket with the ultimate in uncompromising performance and durability. ISP is now following a new corporate strategy that it is launching at METS, which is aimed at achieving a higher market profile for its Challenger range. By overcoming a limitation present in all other lifejackets on the market, the new Convertible is expected to set another new bench mark for performance that will help establish the Challenger reputation as being the best there is. 

Note to editors
Images to support this news story can be obtained by contacting PEMS Marine PR

Press enquiries: Paul Eastaugh PEMS Marine & Offshore PR

Tel: +44 (0)118 934 1101 Fax: +44 (0)118 934 1137 Mobile +44 (0)7889 432014

Email: paul.eastaugh@btinternet.com

Sales enquiries: Geoff Billington,

International Safety Products Ltd

Orrell Mount, 159 Hawthorne Road,

Bootle, Merseyside, L20 6JU

Tel: +44 (0)151 922 2202  Fax: +44 (0)151 922 5874

Email: gbillington@ispl.co.uk

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