The Role of Thermal Protective Aids in Maritime Safety

#### Date: March 18, 2024 | Article Number: 6

The sea, with its vastness and unpredictability, poses significant risks, especially in colder climates where the threat of hypothermia is as dangerous as the water itself. Understanding this, SOLAS and the LSA Code provide strict guidelines for the construction and performance of anti-exposure suits and thermal protective aids, ensuring the safety and survival of maritime personnel.

Anti-Exposure Suits: Ensuring Warmth and Safety

Anti-exposure suits are designed to deliver vital thermal protection. They must perform under stringent conditions, such as ensuring the wearer’s core body temperature does not fall more than 1.5°C per hour after the first half-hour when submerged in water at 5°C. This standard holds even after a jump that totally submerges the wearer, embodying the SOLAS commitment to maritime safety.

Thermal Protective Aids: Reducing Risk in Icy Waters

Complementing anti-exposure suits are thermal protective aids, made from waterproof material with a thermal conductance not exceeding 7800 W/(m2·K). They significantly reduce convective and evaporative heat loss, covering the whole body except the face, and hands unless gloves are provided. These aids are not just for warmth; they are a lifeline in icy waters, functional across a broad temperature range from -30°C to +20°C.

Innovative Features for Enhanced Safety

The anti-exposure suit, while providing buoyancy and reducing heat stress, is designed for practicality, with features such as pockets for VHF telephones and a minimum 120° field of vision. They must be donned swiftly, signaling a blend of immediate protection and long-term survival. Their companion thermal aids must be equally accessible, capable of being donned without assistance in a survival craft or rescue boat, and removable within two minutes if they impair the ability to swim.

Conclusion: More Than Compliance

These measures in the LSA Code extend beyond compliance; they are about equipping seafarers with the best possible chance of survival. As seafaring continues to evolve with new technologies and materials, SOLAS and the LSA Code serve as beacons of progress in maritime safety, enshrining the values of protection, prevention, and preparedness in their statutes.

As we continue to navigate through treacherous waters, it's comforting to know that the industry is not just about the journey, but equally about ensuring the safety of those who make the journey possible.