After introducing an innovative inflatable survival platform, the Seapod, Salvare Worldwide has now presented its new smaller cousin, the Mini-Pod.
Like the Seapod, the aim of the Mini-Pod is to provide a place of refuge and buy hours rather than minutes for survivors waiting to be rescued from the sea. Although it does not take the place of a life raft or life jacket, the device solves problems of quick deployment, visibility, and staying safely out of the water to avoid hypothermia.
Quick Deployment
The Mini-Pod has the same qualities as the Seapod, but is much smaller and oblong shaped, meaning it is even more lightweight and quicker to deploy in man overboard situations. As well as being suitable for stowage on board large ships, coastal vessels and small boats, it is also suited to the helicopter and aircraft markets.
Right Way up
Because of its compact size, the Mini-Pod can be deployed to survivors within a very accurate range, which is not always possible to do with a life raft due to its weight and size. The Mini-Pod auto inflates and because of its symmetrical design, it will always inflate the right way up, which is something that cannot be guaranteed with a liferaft. It is not hugely affected by wind conditions and the skirt around the outside adheres to the water surface, making the whole platform extremely stable in all conditions.
Small Freeboard
The Mini-pod has a small freeboard which enables easy boarding even when wearing a life jacket. Rescuers can either pull survivors back to the boat in a man overboard situation, or come alongside the survivor and use the Mini-Pod’s freeboard to get the victim back on board.
Like the Seapod, the Salvare’s Mini-Pod is equipped with Solas approved LED lighting and its highly visible bright Yellow/Orange colour makes it easy to spot out at sea.
