Port of Aarhus to test new rescue ladder

A new Danish invention to increase safety in ports is on its way to the world market. The Port of Aarhus is in the final market development phase.

  The colour is bright yellow. It is made of hard plastic. And it's lit by solar-powered LED lights at night. The goal is to save lives. The background is that the majority of drowning accidents in Denmark happen in harbours. Now LifeLadder will prove its worth in various industrial and urban port environments. The Port of Aarhus is one of four ports involved in this phase. "With LifeLadder, especially the visibility of the ladders will get a boost and especially the visibility of the ladders is of great importance, as every second counts for anyone who might be unlucky to fall into the water on a cold winter day," says Allan Ansberg Knudsen, civil engineer, Aarhus Port. "There have been incidents in Aarhus Harbour where a person has fallen into the water from a quay close to the city. This happens especially to people who are not necessarily used to being in the port environment. Most often it is people returning from a night out on the town. Ladders that are visible and easy to climb are particularly important here," says Allan Ansberg Knudsen. The Port of Aarhus will install and test 10 of the new rescue ladders. "I hope LifeLadder proves to be a flexible system, so the ladders can be quickly installed or replaced, regardless of the berth design. Traditional rescue ladders often have to be custom-made - especially on the old quays - and the right manpower and equipment are needed to handle the heavy ladders," says Allan Ansberg Knudsen, who is pleased that Aarhus Port is involved in the development of new and safer rescue ladders: "Aarhus Port has previously participated in the development of rescue ladders, where it was instructive to gain insight into the considerations that were made in the development of a new and safer ladder. Our focus has been on visibility, accessibility and robustness. The challenge is that there can be contradictions between these points - for example lighting increases visibility but it needs to be a robust light source as there are harsh impacts in the port environment." LifeLadder will go into production in early 2018. The lifeline will be manufactured in Denmark. In addition to the Port of Aarhus, three other ports have signed agreements for the supply of LifeLadder. These are the Municipality of Svendborg, the Port of Helsingborg and the Dutch lock service company Mourik. The company Port-Safety is responsible for the production and sale of LifeLadder. Testing of the LifeLadder is supported by the Market Modelling Fund.

Facts about LifeLadder - A ladder that can save lives LifeLadder is an innovative and patented maritime safety device. A rescue ladder for quayside installations globally. LifeLadder is suitable for industrial and urban quays, locks, waterways and marinas. Visibility both day and night delivers for-improved maritime safety. Maintenance-free material solution addresses cost and time spent on maintenance. Traditional lifeguards hanging from piers, bridges and quays are typically very difficult to spot. They do not stand out against the dark surfaces of the harbour and, especially at night, they are not visible at all. These ladders are made of steel and despite regular maintenance they rust at the water's surface. Studies in Denmark show that the majority of drowning accidents occur in ports. The need to improve safety is also growing as more and more industrial ports are converted into residential areas. LifeLadder addresses this growing need with a maintenance-free solution that is visible day and night. The solution consists of modules in reinforced plastic, through-dyed in a strong yellow and UV-resistant colour. The modules are tied together with a synthetic rope. A patent has been filed for this construction.

For more information, contact Kim U. Haaning at kuh@port-safety.com or on 5368 8070 See more at port-safety.com See more from Danske Havne here