Marine evacuation system

A marine evacuation system (MES) is a lifesaving device found on many modern passenger ships consisting of an inflatable slide or escape chute where a passenger can evacuate straight into waiting life rafts. Developed in 1979 by RFD, a New Zealand-based company that distributes safety equipment; MES is replacing traditional davit-launched life rafts used on ships.
MESs are common on high speed craft, where weight and evacuation times must be kept to a minimum, although many conventional ferries and cruise ships are now fitting MESs to complement or replace lifeboats.
The main manufacturers of MES are Survitec Group (RFD Beaufort and Brude Safety) Zodiac, Viking, and Liferaft Systems Australia. They take very little space on deck, positioned on the front of the embarkation deck and on the sides of the ship. MES requires little time and effort to assemble, which is crucial in times of emergency.
Evacuation.
MES has gained popularity over the past 30 years due to its mass evacuation ability. It is one of the only life saving appliance (LSA) that can evacuate over 700 people in 30 minutes. It is a well-tested technology gaining vast popularity in the industry due to its ship safety enhancing capabilities in emergency situations. It has been tested in Beaufort Sea State 6 winds and 3, wave heights and the slide prototype has been tested in accordance with EU Directive of Marine Equipment 96/98/EC and IMO Resolution A689(17) as amended.
MES requires only one or two staff members to deploy. The chute automatically falls into the water where a life raft starts to inflate; the whole process takes approximately 90 seconds, with some systems claiming to fully inflate within 1 minute. Once the lifeboat has been inflated, people are asked to jump down through the air-cushioned chutes into the rafts, which can hold more than 700 people.
Components.
The MES consists of 5 components.