New Technology Developed to Save Crew Overboard in Emergencies

A study conducted by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) reveals that a shocking 40% of man-overboard incidents from merchant ships result in fatalities, with over 1,000 people falling overboard each year. Crew members have less than 11 minutes on average to rescue a fallen crewmate from cold water before they become unresponsive. Sam Mayall, a British entrepreneur and founder of Zelim, has developed technology to address this issue, drawing from personal experience of losing shipmates in a tragic accident at sea.

Mayall and his team at Zelim have introduced Guardian, the world’s first unmanned/manned remotely controlled person-in-water rescue vessel. This 8.4m long, 2.5m wide craft is designed for rapid deployment from a ship to retrieve both conscious and unconscious man-overboard casualties. Guardian incorporates Zelim’s SWIFT rapid rescue conveyor and ZOE intelligent detection software, developed over four years with input from maritime agencies.

During an overboard incident, Guardian is swiftly deployed into the water using a ship’s existing davit system. Powered by a waterjet and motor, the vessel can reach speeds of over 30 knots and has a range of 15 nautical miles with a six-hour endurance. Mayall emphasizes the importance of quick retrieval from the water, especially in adverse weather conditions where manned rescue craft may be hindered. Guardian’s design aims to increase the chances of rescuing individuals in harsh maritime conditions, with capacity for up to 11 survivors and an AI-based person-in-water detection system.

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