How to Choose Marine Survival Equipment That Meets SOLAS Standards in the UAE

Marine activities are growing rapidly in Dubai and also across the UAE, in different forms, like a magnet for tourism, trade and shipping and offshore projects by large-scale entities. With this development and projects come a lot of manual labour and the need to board several people on ships to do a variety of work. This is why choosing the right marine safety equipment in Dubai becomes crucial. And not just any marine safety equipment, but the ones that strike a balance between top-notch quality and great marine assistance, while also ensuring SOLAS marine safety equipment compliance. This means, in addition to the type of marine safety equipment to be used, it is also essential to follow marine standards. 

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) have set up marine safety standards across the globe, which need to be followed by all shipping and trading companies. In this article, we shall talk about why marine safety standards matter and the proper procedure for choosing marine safety equipment 

Why Marine Safety and Survival Equipment Are Critical in Dubai?

Marine safety equipment in Dubai needs to be precise and abide by the SOLAS standards owing to various reasons. Firstly, Dubai is not just any easily manageable port. It poses numerous risks, including high temperatures, hectic trading ports, ship crossings, and a large number of people involved. The main hurdle, of course, is the scorching hot weather, the humidity, and the risks of storms posing even fatal dangers to ships. And there are plenty more reasons for using marine safety equipment for the whole crew – dehydration, heat strokes or heat exhaustion and most importantly, the rough sea nature is something people need to prepare for. Many crew members also work away from the shore, in strict environments which fall under the zone of strictest safety, like the oil and gas platforms in the UAE waters. This calls for a rise in demand for marine fire safety equipment in the UAE. Also, Dubai, being one of the busiest ports in the world, caters to plenty of heavy shipping traffic, which involves vessels travelling in and out, leading to collisions and accidents between them. This only elevates the importance of using good-quality marine safety equipment.

In addition, there are a lot of tourist and leisure marine safety equipment requirements to keep tourists safe and secure. Most tourists choose Dubai and the UAE because they have the reputation of being the most reliable operators who provide good marine safety equipment. In short, with no gear or weak, low-quality marine safety equipment, even minor accidents can turn into fatal disasters onboard.

Understanding Regulatory & Quality Standards

One thing to understand is that there are several safety agreements and guidelines at sea, like MARPOL (Marine Pollution Convention), STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), ISM Code (International Safety Management Code) and plenty of others that ensure the safety of the workers and people in the midst of the waters. However, out of these, the most recognised one is the SOLAS, which was created by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It not only tells you what kind of marine safety equipment you need to go for, but also how each equipment should be maintained and how ideally they should perform in emergencies. 

There is plenty of marine safety equipment that comes under the SOLAS radar – like rafts, life jackets, survival suits, different fire extinguishing equipment and many more! This equipment can’t be used readily, because each item needs to be tested for its durability, functionality and responsive nature under extreme temperatures and rough conditions. 

You might be wondering, if SOLAS is universal, then how does each country bring a separate framework for these marine safety equipment? Well, they do not. IMO guidelines come with a strict, technical framework that every maritime supplier has to abide by; however, each country, for example, the UAE in this case, needs to enforce compliance through its local maritime authorities. That’s how the whole thing works. So, whether it’s mere life jackets, UAE operators depend on or even survival suits that Dubai crews keep onboard, the equipment must abide by the same SOLAS framework – checked and enforced at the local level.

Key Types of Marine Safety & Survival Equipment

There is a lot of marine safety equipment, like:

Life Jackets – Would seem very basic, but one of the most essential requirements. People on board need to have access to jackets that strictly meet the SOLAS standards.

Life Rafts – Reliable life raft suppliers in Dubai help with quality life rafts that are easy to deploy and meet all safety standards, protecting the whole crew under extreme emergencies of fire, sinking and others.

Survival Suits – These are crucial for offshore workers wanting protection against oil spills, fire and extreme temperatures too.

Fire Safety Equipment – One of the biggest fatalities a ship can face is the lightning fire spread, leading to extreme hazards. This includes carrying extinguishers, hoses and fire alarms onboard.

Emergency Radios – In order to escape or call for help in case of emergencies, you need this device to help rescuers locate the ship coordinates or even people.

Medical First-Aid – It will take quite a lot of time for the medical team to reach ships that are in the middle of deep water. Hence, every vessel needs to have first aid and medical kits for emergency purposes.

How to Choose the Right Equipment for Your Marine Operation in Dubai?

You might be thinking, with so many options – how do we find the right ones that are both practical and apt for the vessel and meet all safety standards? Well, there are some parameters used to assess them.

Know Your Risks – There are different kinds of vessels serving different purposes. Passenger boats are quite different in function compared to offshore oil rigs. Assess your vessel’s risks – the different purposes these marine equipment need to serve, and choose equipment accordingly.

SOLAS Approval – Your equipment must mandatorily be SOLAS approved. Without it, you can easily fail any inspection or annual checks. Also, along with this, ship owners need to make sure that these frameworks are in sync with the local regulations, like the UAE maritime rules. You need to choose equipment suppliers with such a reputation and who are familiar with all regulations.

Climate Check – Especially in Dubai, climate plays a big role. Hence, you need to arrange equipment that can withstand any harsh environment.

Servicing Plans – It’s not just important to bring in equipment but also to maintain it throughout. Only choose the equipment that can be serviced and re-certified in the UAE.

AquamarisTrading’s Offerings & Why Choose Us

There might be plenty of marine safety equipment suppliers, but Aquamaris stands out for its sheer reputation of catering to high-quality equipment, carefully resourced to meet SOLAS and IMO standards. Aquamaris offers all varieties of safety gear by understanding the core of the Dubai maritime industry and providing clients with the right, resourceful equipment. Choosing Aquamaris Trading means choosing confidence, compliance, and care for your crew and passengers. Contact Aquamaris for consultation, tailor-made quotes or even servicing of your safety gear.