Lifesaving equipment specialist Survitec is encouraging owners of UK-registered commercial fishing vessels to take part in a scheme to improve safety and eliminate predictable fatalities across the fishing industry.
Applications must be received by 31st March 2020, and successful applicants will receive confirmation of eligibility and a claim form.
The scheme is being administered by Seafish in co-operation with the MCA and Trinity House.
Under the terms of the scheme, owners of UK-registered vessels can apply for a refund of a £200 against the cost of purchasing lifejackets fitted with Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs). Additionally, owners can apply for the cost of adding a PLB to previously purchased lifejackets with funding assistance.
The funding applies to all type-approved lifejackets and PLBs, and owners must apply through Seafish, before purchasing the equipment. The application should include a product specification, a quote from the supplier, and the number of items required to equip all crew on board.
‘Seafarers employed in the fishing industry are working in one of, if not the most dangerous maritime sectors, so this initiative can help towards significantly reducing the risks that the nation’s fishermen encounter every day,’ said Survitec’s Business Development Manager Chris Waterman, adding that Survitec is pleased to endorse the Seafish Scheme.
‘As a supplier of a range of trusted and fully-type approved lifejackets and PLBs, we are happy to be the first port of call to commercial fishing vessel owners wishing to take advantage of the offer. We can also supply and fit PLB’s to currently owned Crewsaver lifejackets as an additional service. Our sales team will be happy to advise on the appropriate choice of equipment.’
Survitec will provide all data needed by the Seafish scheme and help to guide applicants through the process.
The company offers the following fully approved options –
• McMurdo FastFind 220: the world’s first Galileo-enabled PLB, a small and light personal safety device that when activated transmits a message over the 406MHz band, which is monitored by the Cospas-Sarsat system, and provides precise location data, from anywhere on the planet, to the nearest search and rescue authorities.
• Crewfit XD Wipe Clean lifejacket: which offers the ultimate in comfort and performance, and includes a wipe-clean cover to ensure longevity when worn continuously in the harshest of environments. It comes with the choice of 150N or 275N bladder.
• rewfit 150N Wipe Clean: a lower-cost alternative traditional lifejacket, with 150N bladder as standard, also featuring a wipe clean cover for mucky conditions.
‘The industry only has until the end of the month to apply, so time is of the essence,’ Chris Waterman said.
