Survitec’s Seahaven Lifeboat Alternative Earns DNV Qualification

Survitec has received a Technology Qualification Statement from DNV for Seahaven, its Advanced Evacuation System for passenger ships. Designed as an alternative to conventional lifeboats, the system can evacuate up to 1,060 passengers through two self-propelled inflatable survival craft using vertical escape helical slides.

The qualification clears a key technical review step for a system that replaces rigid survival craft with propelled inflatable units and combines functions associated with lifeboats and Marine Evacuation Systems. Survitec can now move forward with the Alternative Design and Arrangement process for use on newbuild and retrofit passenger vessels.

DNV conducted the qualification under its Recommended Practice DNV-RP-A203. As part of the process, DNV reviewed full-scale deployment trials, slide integrity evaluations, maximum-capacity embarkation simulations, propulsion performance assessments and maneuverability trials.

“This Technology Qualification from DNV marks a significant milestone, demonstrating the system’s proven reliability through rigorous testing and independent evaluation,” said Jonny Whiteside, chief operating officer at Survitec.

According to Whiteside, the DNV qualification adds to previous validation work involving Lloyd’s Register, RINA and Bureau Veritas.

Seahaven’s design centers on rapid evacuation from passenger ships without relying on traditional lifeboat arrangements. Passengers descend through the helical slide system into inflatable survival craft that are self-propelled, giving the units maneuvering capability after deployment.

The next step for Survitec is advancing Seahaven through the Alternative Design and Arrangement process required for ship-specific integration.

Survitec named no first vessel installation.

It also gave no deployment date in the announcement.