From October 3, 2022, all new fire-fighter radios installed on-board EU flagged vessels have to be Wheelmark approved to prove compliance with the MED.
Cobham SATCOM, a provider of radio and satellite communications solutions, has welcomed the improved safety regulations that will protect the welfare of seafarers using fire-fighter radios.The International Maritime Organisations (IMO) unified interpretation of the safety requirements of the fire-fighter radio, and the European Unions (EU) addition of the fire-fighter radio in the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) mean enhanced safeguarding in extreme situations at sea.
The SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter is the worlds first Wheelmark approved portable radio made specifically for fulfilling the new SOLAS Chapter II-2 Regulation 10.10.4 and to maximise fire safety at sea. Built on the legacy of SAILOR SP3500 series portable radios, the SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter radio provides reliable, feature-rich communication that helps to make the fire party safe and effective when called into action.
The regulatory updates are a further seal of approval for Cobhams SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter radio, which is already compliant with both regulatory updates. SOLAS regulations require all vessels to carry two-way fire-fighter radios which enable trained seafarers to communicate effectively in an emergency; detecting and extinguishing fires before they cause significant risk to life and a vessels integrity.
The IMOs new unified interpretation of the essential safety requirements of fire-fighter radios is based on recommendations from the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), to set a minimum level for intrinsical safety. Approval under the MED is based on dedicated maritime standards, taking the harsh environment and users conditions into consideration.
Commenting on regulatory changes, Peter Andersen, Business Development Manager at Cobham SATCOM, said: Safety of life at sea is the starting point for everything we do. The alignment of our SAILOR 3965 Fire Fighter Radio with these new IMO and EU regulations is the latest example of our philosophy in action. We hope to continue driving further improvements in seafarer safety through our world-leading R&D process, which has supported seafarer welfare for more than 50 years.
