How colour choices improve visibility in rescue situations
In a rescue situation, visibility is critical. Being seen quickly can influence the outcome, which is why colour is treated as a safety decision at VIKING, not a design choice.
Bright, high-visibility colours are used because they improve detectability against the sea and sky. Orange and red are effective choices in maritime environments, particularly because they contrast strongly with the blue ocean and open sky. This is also why they have been widely used in marine safety equipment for decades.
At the same time, visibility depends on more than contrast alone. Light conditions, distance and human vision all play a role. Research into visual perception and operational experience show that bright yellow often appears more luminous than red or orange, especially in overcast weather, low light and fading daylight. The human eye is most sensitive in the yellow-green part of the colour spectrum, which can make yellow easier to detect as light levels drop.
That is why yellow has become VIKING’s preferred safety colour for immersion suits and key visual elements. It provides a strong contrast across a wider range of conditions and supports faster visual detection when visibility is reduced.
Colour choices across different approval regimes
Immersion suits are designed for use in some of the most demanding conditions, and colour plays an important role in supporting visibility during rescue. However, colour choices are not determined by performance alone. They are also shaped by the approval standards the suit must meet, depending on where and how it will be used.
That is why colour requirements vary depending on the approval regime.
For USCG-approved immersion suits, the primary exterior colour is defined by regulation as vivid reddish orange and must be met for certification in the US market. To strengthen visibility across more scenarios, we choose to add yellow elements. The added contrast helps key parts of the suit stand out when light conditions or backgrounds change.
For SOLAS-approved immersion suits, colour choice allows greater focus on visibility performance. Yellow performs well across a wide range of conditions, particularly in dark or fading light, which is why yellow is the preferred colour for VIKING’s SOLAS immersion suits.
At VIKING, colour choices are guided by one objective: helping rescuers find people faster when every second counts. Every colour decision is made with real rescue conditions in mind, based on experience, human factors and the need for clear visibility when it matters most.