Maritime | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Maritime’ Category

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Knowing Your Pace

Sunday, August 30th, 2020

You should always know your pace, you will want to know how far each kick takes you, or you will want to see if it is the same as it has always been. If you have not been in the water in a long time or you have new fins. Here is how you go about finding/ checking your pace. It is basically the same as you would for checking your pace on land.

You will need to have a place you can do this. Next to a pier is a great place, as it will help save some steps. You will need the following gear.

• One hundred yards of line or you can use a wall that is that long. You will still want to mark it. You will need.
• A compass/ Navigation Board
• A stopwatch
• A slate so you can write your times down.

It would is best if you put markers on the line to help mark your time and pace, generally at the quarter, the halfway, and three quarters. This way, it will give you an idea of how fast you are going and help you to adjust if needed. Put something that floats, so that way, you can see it if the bottom gets steered up. Cyamlights, in a Gatorade bottle, works well for this. Secure the line to the bottom. If you have access to something stationary like a pier or dock, it makes it more comfortable to follow along with it. Ensure both ends are as secure as possible because some people tend to pull on the rope while doing this. It may be easier if you can keep your line close to the bottom (not always possible) because it’s easier to identify if the rope is relatively horizontal to the bottom as compared to in free water. Try to set up your rope parallel to any current, although it is best to do this in an area where the currents are mild.

Swim normally from one end to the other while counting your kicks. When you reach the end of the rope, write down the number of kicks you did on your slate. Naturally, repeat this several times. Some people do this exercise at double their average speed because they are task-focused, but this is not a realistic representation of how you would typically dive. Like doing your pace on land, you can count every time your left foot goes up or your right or both. If you are only counting one, then you might tend to push harder on the leg. So be aware of that. Use the stopwatch to adjust how long this takes you. You want to do the 100yards in 3 min.

Do this at least twice so you can average between swimming into the current with swimming with the current. The more time you do this, the better and you are more likely to relax, the more you do it.

Now, take the average of all of your samples and divide that number into the distance traveled. If you averaged 50 kicks to go 100 yards along the line, each fin kick you make averages just over seven and a half feet in distance traveled. This will help with any time you need to cover a certain distance. You will also want to do this if you are using things you have not used before. For example, if you are carrying heavier gear, a Ladder with a hook for breaching gear or a waterproof bag.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Maritime | 1 Comment »

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Binoculars for Use on the Water

Sunday, August 23rd, 2020

Binoculars are one of the most important things to have when you are on the water. It one of the only times you will truly be in the wide open for everyone to see you and if you can’t see them you are at a big disadvantage. When it comes to selecting a good pair of binoculars for use on the water or in the field, there are a lot of things to look for. Most of the time, if you are not a sniper, you really don’t understand or care what all this stuff means. But here are a few things you should know to help you choose the right ones for the job.

• 7 x 50’s and 8 x 32’s
• What about prisms
• Are coated optics important

Binoculars are described using two numbers, such as 7 x 50 or 8 x 25. The first number identifies the magnification or power. The second is the diameter of the objective lens (the lens at the front) in millimeters. Magnification power describes how much closer objects appear when you view them. In a 7 x 50 binocular, the image is magnified seven times. Increased magnification reduces the brightness of the image, so as magnification increases, binoculars require increasingly larger objective lenses to maintain brightness. The larger their size, the more light they can gather.

Magnification: Many binoculars used on land have too much magnification for use on a non-stable platform. The more an image is magnified, the harder it is to keep an object in view, so 7x power is the practical magnification limit for small boats (under 50′). Image stabilizing binoculars allow comfortable viewing with much higher magnification, up to 18x power, because they automatically compensate for movement.

Waterproof construction: With the combination of water, salt, and changes in temperature, it will cause the interior lenses of a non–waterproof binoculars to fog. Waterproof construction, with the internal O-rings, sealed and filled or “charged” with dry nitrogen, combined with flotation in the strap, to help protects your binoculars if they are dropped overboard.

Rangefinders are handy for taking bearings or determining approximate height of or distance to an object.

Do you need a built-in compass or rangefinder reticule?

Bearing compasses: Built-in compasses, which appear superimposed near the image you see through the lens, lets you take bearings from an object that is very far away. They are highly recommended for marine use.

Rangefinder reticule: If you know the height of an object, such as a hill or navigation marker (often printed on charts and maps) and can measure the angle to its top using binoculars equipped with a rangefinder reticule, you can calculate your distance from that object.

Individual focus, center focus, or fixed focus?

Binoculars may have independent eyepiece focus to compensate for the differences between eyes and for different distances. In center-focus binoculars, one eyepiece adjusts to accommodate the difference between your eyes. A central focus knob then adjusts both sides simultaneously for distance.

Steiner Binoculars use a fixed-focus system, with a very deep depth of field, called Sport Auto-Focus. With Sports Auto-Focus, once you’ve adjusted your ocular settings for differences in your individual eyes, you won’t need to adjust the binocular again for varying distances. You’ll get a sharp, clear picture from 50′ to infinity. This set-it-and-forget-it system works well.

Relative brightness: How bright an image appears is a function of the quality of the optics and the ratio of the objective lens diameter divided by the magnification, squared (50 ÷ 7)2. So, 7 x 50 binoculars have a relative brightness of about 50, while 8 x 23 binoculars have a relative brightness of only 8.2. Objects will be visible in far less light with the 7 x 50 models.

Light transmission efficiency: Cheap glasses may allow only half the light entering the objective lenses to reach your eyes. Good quality glasses pass about 75% of the light. Truly exceptional binoculars, such as top models from Steiner and Fujifilm, pass more than 93% to 97% of light to your eyes, making all objects appear brighter. Quality optics also make the image sharper. Inexpensive glasses may produce astigmatic images that are fuzzy at the edges. Superior glasses are sharp from edge to edge and are less fatiguing to the eyes when used for extended periods.

Lens coatings. When light enters or leaves a piece of glass, about 5% is reflected back. With as many as 16 air/glass surfaces inside your binoculars, there could be a lot of internal light bouncing around, reducing the brightness, sharpness, and contrast of the image. Lenses are coated using one or more thin layers of chemicals (most commonly magnesium fluoride), reducing this internal reflection from 5% to 1% or less. But not all coatings are the same. If you look at the outside lens surfaces, quality lens coatings will appear as subtle tints of violet, blue, or green. Heavily colored lenses in cheap glasses actually reduce the amount of light transmitted. Also, better binoculars include more layers, with more complex chemical combinations, on more surfaces, to achieve light transmission efficiency.

• Coated: one or more surfaces coated with a single layer.

• Fully coated: all air-to-glass surfaces are coated with a single layer.

• Multi-coated: one or more surfaces coated with multiple layers.

• Fully multi-coated: all air-to-glass surfaces are coated with multiple layers.

Field of view The field of view describes the width of the image you see, measured in feet at the distance of 1000 yards. Binoculars offering 385′ field of view show the viewer a cone that is 385′ wide 1000 yards out. Higher-powered image-stabilized binoculars provide a narrower field of view (200–340′) than conventional units (up to 430′).

Prisms are used to invert and magnify an upside-down image, are either Porro (binoculars with a dog-leg shape) or roof prisms (with straight tube configuration that is easier to hold). There is some disagreement as to which is best, but it’s generally believed that Porro prisms yield superior optical performance. They transmit more light, resulting in brighter images, and provide better depth perception, because their objective lenses are farther apart. However, some roof prisms with phase shift coating provide excellent performance.

Image-stabilizing binoculars

Image Stabilizing (I.S.) binoculars provide a steady image, even on a Zodiac that is not stable. The rolling, pitching and bouncing motion on a boat makes it hard to keep an image in focus using binoculars. I.S. binoculars automatically compensate for movement on a non-stable platform, like a boat, helo, or a side by side to deliver a stable image, even at high magnifications.

There are a few companies that make I.S bino’s, and they all basically work the same but, every company is a little different. Fujinon’s Techno–Stabi IS binoculars are built with dual piezo–motion sensors and gyro position sensors that are linked to direct drive motors for instant and continuous stabilization with low battery drain. The Techno–Stabi achieves a high degree of stabilization in all planes. Two direct-drive motors–one horizontal, one vertical–each controlled by its own piezo vibration sensor, instantly stabilize the image. Phase–coated roof prisms help provide clarity. Power consumption is minimal, and they are advertised as waterproof.

Nikon’s StabilEyes binoculars and Fraser Optics binoculars and monocular are built with a digitally stabilized gimbaled servo system to provide a view that is unaffected by handshake or vibration. The StabilEyes provide constant stabilization when activated, and Nikon’s original dual-mode system allows for use on land and sea by compensating for both roll and shake. The StabilEyes line is also completely waterproof and fog proof. The power consumption of the AA batteries is minimal in spite of the constant image stabilization functions.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Maritime, Optics | 5 Comments »

The Wing Group Announces Scott Williams as VP Defense, Business Development

Thursday, August 20th, 2020

Lafayette CA, The Wing group (Wing Inflatables, Inc.) announces the appointment of Scott Williams as its new VP Defense, Business Development. Expanding its team to deliver exceptional innovative inflatable solutions to maritime professionals.

No stranger to the mission of building confidence and saving lives, retired Master Chief SEAL Scott Williams joins the team after a distinguished active career in the service spanning 24 years.

After retirement Scott moved into program management for USSOCOM, Program Executive Office, SOF Warrior in Natick, MA working on projects for the warfighter. He ran six programs, from cold weather clothing to backpacks, culminating with his most significant program, Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). The program was developed from the ground up, testing and fielding a “doc-in-the-box” system that could be air delivered around the world.

The TCCC program was awarded the Better Buying Power award for Defense – the most prestigious acquisition award presented by DOD.

Moving into consulting for maritime and aerospace, Scott then led a specific effort to build and deliver an inflatable wall system to military and law enforcement worldwide. Allowing them to train for active shooter in their own backyard.

“I met Scott when he began consulting and knew straight away that it would be a privilege to have him on our team. It would be a matter of opportunity and timing. Those two aligned this year, after the acquisition of Mustang Survival. We’re excited to have Scott join us and his background and experience will enable us to focus on aligning our business development efforts across all elements of the Wing Group” – Andrew Branagh, CEO The Wing Group

“The Wing Group of companies are best in class at providing innovative inflatable and safety solutions for those who lead the fight both here and abroad. Being part of a team that provides the highest quality gear required to complete missions safely and return each night to their loved ones is a role I’m proud to be a part of.” – Scott Williams, VP Defense – Business Development.

Scott Williams – swilliams@winggroup.com

www.inflatablesolutions.com

Posted in Industry, Maritime, Press Release | 2 Comments »

SCUBAPRO Sunday – The D-Mask

Sunday, August 16th, 2020

The new SCUBAPRO D-Mask is a, premium mask designed for all types of diving. It is equipped with UV+420cutTM lenses that filter out high-energy visible (HEV) light and UV light without affecting how colors appear underwater. It is the only premium mask that features an interchangeable lens system for optional optical lenses.

Mask has rotating buckles that work with a new black-on-black Comfort Strap to optimize range of motion and achieve a comfortable, watertight fit. The D-Mask has all the standard features you would expect in a quality mask, such as a double feathered edge silicone skirt, wide strap design, easy to reach nose pocket for ear equalization, dual tempered glass lenses for safety and ribbed skirt and nose pocket for sure grip even when wearing thick gloves.

The lenses of the mask are made from an ultra-clear glass. Standard glass has a green tint. The green tint you see is the result of iron impurities left over in lower quality float or window type glass. That green tint distorts true colors and blocks-out some of the light that reaches the eye. Ultra-clear is a new and exciting optical quality tempered glass with exceptional clarity and high light transmission, with no color distortion. The exceptionally high light transmittance and lack of distortion in the ultra-clear lens maximize the light available for improved visual acuity, especially underwater in low light conditions. Better vision and more accurate colors are what you get with SCUBAPRO ultra-clear lenses.

The mask comes in a durable molded fabric protective box, a HUD hands-free dive computer mount, and an all-black Comfort Strap.

CHOICE OF SKIRTS Three skirt sizes – Small (Narrow), Medium, and Wide – ensure a perfect fit for a range of divers and face shapes.

COLOR KITS Are available to match perfectly to SCUBAPRO suits, masks, HYDROS BCDs, and Seawing Nova fins.

UNRIVALED LENS CLARITY
True color UV protective lenses offer protection from UV light on the surface without affecting colors underwater.

OPTICAL ENHANCEMENT
Interchangeable lens system makes it easy to install optional optical lenses (ranging from -1.5 to -5.0 or +1.5 to +4.0 in .5 diopter increments).

ADD-ON BI-FOCUS
Optional magnifiers can be bonded to standard lenses with a range of +1.0 to +3.0.

www.scubapro.com

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Maritime | Comments Off on SCUBAPRO Sunday – The D-Mask

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Mask Squeeze

Sunday, August 9th, 2020

When you first start diving, sometimes little things will happen, which most likely will not occur as you gain more experience like forgetting to bring an extra mask. Sometimes It can be a little most serious like you might forget to do a proper purge process, and you get to depth, and you pass out. Your dive buddy has to pull you to the surface and think he is getting kicked out because he is a new guy like you, and he believes he killed his swim buddy. Other things can happen that are a little more series. It can cause some harm if you are not careful, and it will make you look like you have to hickeys on your eye. It is a good thing if it is around Halloween, you will look like a zombie and not a cool one like the Walking Dead. It is a mask squeeze or for the corpsman in the group called facial barotrauma.

What is Mask Squeeze?

A Mask squeeze can occur with the incorrect equalization of the air pressure inside your mask, causes it to compress tighter against your face, causing the small blood vessels around the eyes to burst. If you don’t know how this feels, it’s like the covered areas of your face get sucked into the mask as the negative space between them gets smaller. While all dive briefs should t divers are usually warned about during Open Water Diver courses, many don’t pay too much attention to it after underestimating the trauma that it can cause. So unless you’re willing to surface with scary, bloodshot eyes, you’ll want to remember what not to do and what you can do to prevent it from happening during any of your dives.

How Does Mask Squeeze Happen?

Several things can cause an unfavorable change of mask pressure. The most common is failing to exhale into the mask during descent. Many divers remember to equalize their ears since ear discomfort becomes increasingly noticeable as you dive deeper. Still, they may not realize the increase in scuba mask pressure until after they surface.

Other factors that increase the likelihood of mask squeeze from diving are poor dive mask fitting (particularly if you choose a mask that’s too small for your face or too tight, to begin with) and fast descent. As you can imagine, it can be easy for a diver to forget the steps to take to prevent mask squeeze, especially for beginners who are worried about getting air into the mask.

Dangerous Effects of Mask Squeeze

Divers who suffer from mask squeeze may notice bruising around the eyes, blood spots over the white areas of their eyes, and swelling. Fortunately, it rarely causes injury inside the eyeball. Divers often get alarmed and panicky when they see blood in their eyes. Still, the condition isn’t as dangerous as it looks and usually clears away without any significant mask squeeze treatment.

In the most severe cases, the hemorrhage can last longer, or you might notice a loss of vision or pain, in which case you should visit a doctor straight away.

Avoiding Mask Squeeze

Prevention is always better than cure, so every diver needs to remember how to use their masks properly and avoid mask squeeze.

First, never wear masks that cover only the eyes. While those may be suitable for snorkeling, you’ll need a mask that can be equalized if you’re swimming at greater depths. Fortunately, modern dive masks have nose valves that allow divers to quickly equalize the air space between their mask and face without the risk of flooding it.

Next, don’t choose a mask that feels tight, to begin with. Once you descend, the pressure automatically causes an increased suction on the mask. A scuba mask should sit comfortably on the diver’s face and stick when mild pressure is applied even without the strap being worn.

To help prevent bruising, a soft silicone skirting is also a must, so the mask will comfortably cushion and spread the pressure around your face.

Finally, don’t descend too fast and make it a habit to equalize. Instead of being worried about water getting into your mask, it helps you get comfortable taking off and putting on your dive mask underwater.

Through practice and with the presence of mind, you can easily avoid mask squeeze and enjoy much safer dives.

What is mask squeeze?

Like the air spaces in your sinuses and ears, you must also equalize the air space in your mask as you descend. When you descend, failure to equalize, or add air to the air space in the mask, by exhaling through your nose, can create unequal pressure between the mask air space and the vascular pressure within the blood vessels of the face. This can result in various degrees of facial barotrauma, or injury to the soft tissues of your face contained within the mask. Imagine your face in a suction cup. The soft tissues beneath the mask and especially around the eye, swell (periorbital edema) and discolor, such as redness or bruising (ecchymosis).

What treatment do I need?

Unless you are experiencing eye pain or visual problems, there is no treatment for facial barotrauma except time. Because it is a bruise, your body will eventually reabsorb the effect of your mask squeeze. Your physician or an eye specialist should immediately address eye pain or visual disturbances such as blurred vision or loss of part of the visual field. These symptoms would be extremely rare in mask squeeze, however. The signs and symptoms of mask squeeze can take up to two weeks or more to resolve. Unfortunately, it is one of those conditions where you will probably look worse than you’d like before it gets better. Not only will blood and edema needs to be reabsorbed, but it tends to be gravity-dependent – which means it will spread downward on your face. Before you heal, you may look like a red-eyed black-and-blue marked creature in a B-grade horror flick or a boxer that took at least two too many punches.

Who gets mask squeeze?

Mostly new divers get squeezed – they tend to be overwhelmed by all the skills they need to remember, such as buoyancy control and equalizing their ears and sinuses, all while being mesmerized by the mysteries of the sea. More experienced divers, however, are not immune to mask squeeze. They tend to have mask squeeze when they concentrate on some new activity or focus on a task that diverts their attention from clearing their mask. Changing to a new mask or to a low-volume mask may also lead to mask squeeze, because the diver may not be accustomed to when to add air. Finally, poor-fitting masks or other issues such as facial hair may lead to problems with equalizing.

How do you prevent mask squeeze from happening again?

The solution to preventing mask squeeze is to remember to keep your nasal passageways open during descent. By exhaling through your nose and using a properly fitted mask, you will minimize facial barotrauma risk. A mask should fit comfortably against your face, and you should be able to achieve an appropriate seal by gently placing the mask on your face and inhaling through your nose. The mask should seal to your face and not fall off even without the mask strap in place. It is not unusual for a small amount of leakage to occur while diving, especially if you have facial hair. Exhaling through your nose and tilting your face towards the surface while cracking the mask’s lower seal will generally remove any unwanted water from your mask.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Maritime, Medical | Comments Off on SCUBAPRO Sunday – Mask Squeeze

Mountain Horse and NP Aerospace Selected for US Navy Maritime Body Armor Contract

Thursday, August 6th, 2020

LASA LWB III+ IC06 MBP Maritime Buoyant Plate

Mountain Horse Solutions, a U.S. Defense and Mission Critical Equipment Supplier, based in Union City TN, and NP Aerospace, a ballistic hard armor company, have been awarded a four-year U.S. Navy Maritime Buoyant Plate body armor contract framework valued at over $20m.

Mountain Horse and NP Aerospace will supply up to 11,000 of the LASA LWB III+ IC06 MBP Maritime Buoyant Plates, which are lightweight and feature a highly durable waterproof Polyurea coating. The contract framework is for a four-year period and has a maximum value of $20,599,334. Mountain Horse and NP Aerospace were selected due to their ability to meet U.S. Navy strict performance requirements.

Mountain Horse, a key supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces and Government Agencies, selected NP Aerospace as hard armor manufacturer due to the company’s extensive experience working with global defense organizations including Canada’s Department of National Defence and the UK Ministry of Defence. NP Aerospace has supplied over 200,000 body armor plates to British and Canadian Armed Forces, more than 1 million ballistic helmets and armor systems for over 2,000 NATO vehicles used in overseas operations.

Chris Witts, Director, Mountain Horse Solutions, said: “We are thrilled and honored to be awarded this contract. Supplying the U.S. Navy with a top-quality critical safety product, like the Maritime Buoyant Hard Armor plate, is a significant achievement. Mountain Horse Solutions is an expert in supply chain management and prides itself in providing the US Armed Forces with the highest quality and most innovative equipment available. This award confirms the strength of Mountain Horse Solutions’ partnership with NP Aerospace and our commitment to supplying rapid response innovative solutions to the military.”

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, said: “Being awarded the U.S. Navy Maritime Buoyant Plate body armor contract is a testament to our experience in composite armor technology. Our personal armor has been used by frontline allied forces for over 25 years. We are proud to be supporting Mountain Horse and the U.S. Navy in supplying our troops with the lightest weight, highest performing, top quality products in the market. The LWB III+ IC06 MBP Maritime Buoyant Plate is able to comfortably meet the ballistic threat required by the U.S. Navy and delivers the wearability and buoyancy required in maritime operations.”

NP Aerospace is a global armor manufacturer with extensive experience in complex, military programs. The company’s body armor portfolio includes a range of ballistic plates to meet demanding defense requirements from NIJ Level III plates for standard military operations to NIJ Level IV plus special threats plates.

Mountain Horse Solutions and NP Aerospace were awarded the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract N61331-20-D-0014, as an ID/IQ (Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity) to provide Maritime Buoyant Body Armor (MBP), both in torso and side configurations.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, Maritime, Navy, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Mustang Survival Announces Merger With MTI Adventurewear

Tuesday, August 4th, 2020

A strategic move as they pursue growth in paddlesportsBurnaby, BC – Mustang Survival, the North American brand known for innovative solutions for the most demanding marine environments, is excited to announce, that after the recent acquisition of MTI Adventurewear by its parent company the Wing Group, the two brands will merge to create a key player in the paddlesports market.

California based Wing Group, a leading manufacturer of inflatable sponsons, small combat craft, whitewater rafting solutions, life rafts, and marine doors and windows, recently closed on the acquisition of MTI with the sole purpose of building on its recreational portfolio and adding an existing, well respected paddling brand to merge with Mustang Survival.

The amalgamation allows Mustang Survival to enhance its offerings in paddle PFD’s and become the trusted industry leader in marine recreation with product that spans all activities from off-shore Sailing, kayak Angling, boating and now in a much larger way, paddling.

Commenting on the announcement, Mustang Survival VP Recreation Product Category, Josh Horoshok, highlights the opportunities it creates. “Combining the technical engineering of Mustang Survival with the design and development of MTI Adventurewear will provide a platform to build world-class premium white-water, rescue and guide level product. It will be a catalyst that drives us forward to achieving our vision of being a podium brand in this high-growth category.”

The Wing Group led by President and CEO Andrew Branagh has been expanding its core product offering and reach with acquisitions aligned to its values and mission.

“MTI represented an incredible opportunity to become more relevant in the paddlesports market. Combining the Mustang Survival Brand, DNA and product, together with MTI we can now provide premium foam flotation solutions in a full assortment to increase the commercial appeal to a broader selection of consumers”.

MTI Adventurewear, MTI Adventurewear is a family owned and operated business founded in 1991. Current owners, husband and wife, Gordon and Lili Colby have been passionate about developing and producing comfortable and affordable foam and inflatable PFD’s for paddlers since they bought the business in 2011.

“The best PFD is the one someone will wear, and it’s been our mission to make getting into and wearing a PFD as easy and accessible as we can. We are so excited to become part of the Mustang Survival family, and to work alongside a likeminded group of dedicated designers, engineers and customer experience professionals, all focused on delivering premium service and solutions. MTI’s established base in paddlesports is the perfect platform for Mustang Survival to launch into the industry”.

Both will take on roles at Mustang Survival. Gordon will work in PFD design and development while Lili will assist Mustang Survival’s sales and marketing teams. The acquisition and Mustang Survival’s push into outdoor/paddle will be paired with a huge investment in grass roots marketing and winning with communities.

Mustang Survival is currently working with all MTI customers and suppliers to develop a smooth busines transition. Product will be showcased and sold via the Mustang Survival website, and all customer service will be handled by Mustang Survival teams.

www.mustangsurvival.com.

Posted in Industry, Maritime, Press Release | Comments Off on Mustang Survival Announces Merger With MTI Adventurewear

MATBOCK Monday – BLS

Monday, August 3rd, 2020

Good Morning and Happy MATBOCK Monday!

The BLS is a joint project between MATBOCK and MAS Special Ops Training. It’s a patent pending Bench, Ladder, Stretcher designed for Wing and Zodiac inflatable boats. The BLS is sold as a pair (bottom and upper sections) and designed to deploy as a unit. For the inflatables, it sits across the side tubes and can be secured to the floor with either ratchet straps or line (not included in the kit), giving space for 4 operators to sit forward facing during transit. When reaching the landing site or ship to be boarded, the sections can be attached together to create a 12 foot ladder with integrated shepherds hooks and offset ladder rungs. Additionally, the ladder rungs are coated on the top surface with nonslip to help prevent falls due to wet surfaces. If there is a casualty, a single section can be used as a stretcher to evacuate the individual as well. Four handles protrude from the sides to aid in transport as well as for positioning the ladder.

Each section is 69” tall, 17.5” wide, weighs 20.5 lbs and is made of aluminum with welded connections throughout the system. Additionally, the BLS comes with grip feet on the lower section to help prevent the bottom from kicking out while being used as a ladder.

www.matbock.com/products/bls

Don’t forget to tune in on Monday at 4:30 PM EST as we go live to demo our BLS system!

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Maritime | 2 Comments »