VIKING designs and installs its most flexible MiniSlide system yet

VIKING introduces their latest design in evacuation mini slide systems, with separate mini slide, new brake cushion system and single bowsing winch technology.

VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT launched its new evacuation liferaft system in the middle of a snow storm on a cold fjord in Norway on the 22nd of March this year, under the watchful eye of the Norwegian Maritime Authorities.

The brand new design of mini slide was bought by the ferry company Fjord 1 and integrated by ship builders Fiskerstrand Verft on their new ro-ro passenger vessel, the M/F "Lote".

VIKING designed the new slide as an alternative to their already popular VIKING Evacuation MiniSlide System, or VEMS, to be an even more flexible means of evacuation from middle and low embarkation height passenger vessels.

The New Mini Slide system is a step forward
Two new design features make this system stand out from those already on the market; the brake cushion system designed to make descent safer and easier; and the new single bowsing technology. Coupled with the super high capacity 150 person liferaft, the M/F "Lote" has been installed with one of the most thought-through slide based evacuation systems yet.

New brake system for improved evacuation flow
The new brake cushion system (patent pending) gives evacuees a clear stopping point at the bottom of the slide and a soft stop at the interface with the liferaft. Standing at the top of an evacuation slide can be a daunting prospect, especially in hard weather conditions. A clear, effective and safe stopping point should mean calmer evacuees and increased clearance efficiency at the base of the slide.

Single bowsing technology makes system positioning easier
The single bowsing line technology (patent pending) means that only one crew member is needed to position the liferaft, freeing other crew members to attend to other evacuation duties. One winch creates just the right pull in just the right places to ensure the liferaft is swiftly, safely and easily pulled into place ready for evacuation.

High capacity 150 person liferafts reduce the space needed to store the required evacuation capacity
Space is always an issue when integrating an evacuation system into vessel design. The new Mini Slide system has a 150 person liferaft, making it the largest inflatable VIKING system liferaft yet. The liferaft is available with or without canopy to suit both open sea and protected waters.

Flexibility is the key in providing systems that fit vessels like a glove
"The new Mini Slide system is our most flexible system yet. The fact that it can be combined with VIKING's high capacity standard and self-righting liferafts (150 man, 101 man and 50 man capacity) means that it can be designed to suit the exact evacuation capacity requirements", says Niels Frænde, Global Sales Manager for the passenger segment with VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT, the world’s largest supplier of maritime evacuation systems.