Norwegian Maritime Equipment says it has introduced a big brother for what it says was the world''s smallest free fall lifeboat, the JY-FN/FF-4.9, when launched last year. The new lifeboat has a 28-person capacity yet is only 5.8m long, saving on valuable deck space.
The new NorMar lifeboat comes in two versions, Freefall 5.8C and Freefall 5.8T for cargo and large fishing vessels and tankers respectively. The tanker model is fire-protected with an external water spray and an internal compressed air supply, providing a high level of protection for tanker and oil platform crews. The drop height is 16m and the boat, which has European Community type approval is fitted with a Bukh DV 29 diesel engine, but can also be delivered with other types of engines.
