When Every Second Counts

Markus Lifenet provides innovative, reliable rescue and escape equipment to all areas of the marine sector, from commercial fishing vessels to international oil rigs.

A man overboard incident is a dangerous situation that can occur at any time on a vessel, and it’s crucial to have the right equipment to respond quickly and effectively. Markus Lifenet in Iceland is a company specializing in developing and supplying products designed to help recover people who have fallen overboard. With over 40 years of experience in man overboard safety and rescue products, Markus Lifenet offers practical and efficient solutions to the international maritime community.

The unique Markusnet rescue device

Their flagship product is the Markusnet, an innovative lifesaver and the only one of its kind in the industry. The net is unique in design, allowing the rescued individual to stand, sit or lie in it, is ISO-standardized and can be both manually and crane-operated. Additionally, the Markusnet is lightweight and more flexible than other rescue nets on the market. “Our unique Markusnet is my grandfather’s innovation and has been further developed by us based on extensive experience in the field,” says Rakel Yr Petursdottir, CEO of Markus Lifenet. “It has proven to be successful in situations where traditional methods have usually failed.”

Since 1986, the Markusnet has been required on all deck vessels 45 feet (15 meters) and larger in Iceland. ISO certified and approved by Lloyd’s Register EMEA, the Markusnet is also mandatory equipment on decked vessels in several countries and a standard in harbors in Iceland. It was introduced to the MSC and DE committees at the IMO during the development of new requirements III-17.1 in SOLAS for man overboard recovery systems.

“The Markusnet is designed to quickly and efficiently rescue individuals who have fallen overboard. Upon deployment, a throw line is used to establish a connection between the individual and the ship,” explains Pétursdóttir. “This line then serves as a means for the individual to pull themselves to the net, where they can sit or lie down and be lifted up to safety by two crew members. The net is very effective and reliable, particularly when every second counts. Under optimal conditions, the entire rescue process can be completed in just one minute.”

The Markusnet is manufactured in different versions based on the freeboard height of the vessel and is available for lifeboats, tender boats, public transport boats, and offshore coastguard vessels. With the right equipment and training, the risk of man overboard incidents can be reduced, leading to a safer ship, lower insurance costs, and a more positive team morale.

The company has been promoting the renowned man overboard rescue technique Markusnet to the international maritime community since 1984 and has been dedicated to improving and refining its systems over the years. The device has been developed over several generations and has now become a standard for international maritime safety.

“We launched the fifth version in 1999 and the net is now widely used on deck boats, ships, quay areas, and offshore installations,” says

Petursdottir. “Our nets are reusable without having to repack them, and are available for both manual and crane use.”

In 2002, the company released its first rescue net designed specifically for FRB boats, which has proven to be an effective and user-friendly solution. Building on the success of the Markus MOB Boat (FRB) Rescuenet, Markus Lifenet went on to develop the Markus man overboard scramble-net for lifeboats, tender boats, public transport boats, and offshore coastguard vessels. This innovative product allows for single deck crew to provide a fast and reliable man overboard recovery option. The MOB Rescue-net is designed for SOLAS type rescue boats. It is designed to roll an unconscious MOB onboard in a horizontal position. Workboats with limited lifting height can easily use the company’s Cradle Rescue-net that has a lifting height range from 0.5m to 2.5m and a suitable rescue zone midship.

For vessels with high freeboard height, the Cargo Ship Rescue-net provides the necessary means for lifting MOB with lifting height from 3m (12’) to 10m (35’) with a suitable rescue zone midship on both sides. “Our larger climbing nets have proven successful in mass rescues, such as in the Mediterranean,” explains Pétursdóttir. “Those who have the strength can get up themselves while the rescuers focus on the others.”

According to Pétursdóttir their climbing nets are cost effective, their production is efficient and they are lighter than other rescue nets on the market. In addition, all their equipment is moveable which is more efficient and flexible than many other similar products.

In addition to these products, Markus Lifenet Ltd also provides the Markus MOB Emergency ladder for boat type MEL2. The ladder is designed for leisure boats and workboats of all types and provides a person who has fallen overboard and a rescue swimmer the ability to climb back on board. “The ladder is used more on skiffs and sailboats as an addition to fixed equipment on the side of the boat,” explains Pétursdóttir. “This has saved many people, especially when people have been sailing or working alone.”

As a third-generation director of a family business, Pétursdóttir takes pride in the quality of their service. She stresses the importance of regular maintenance and service for their products. “In the event of a man overboard, it is crucial that the equipment is in top working order. We have a strict maintenance and inspection protocol in place that I implemented in 2015 and our clients have been very happy to have a well-regulated inspection framework for their rescue equipment.”

The company has a network of agents around the world that cover both sales and service. They perform maintenance checks and each time a replacement part is needed the company does a security check on the equipment in question. This is in addition to the scheduled maintenance for each item.

“Our international clients are very conscientious in maintaining and caring for their equipment,” Pétursdóttir explains. “Most of our agents and resellers have their own service departments locally and carry out the same inspection protocol as we do. They are proactive in their service and are always on hand if and when needed.”

Cooperation with the Coast Guard in several countries

Markus Lifenet’s commitment to innovation and rigorous testing has resulted in a range of products that meet the demands of official government bodies. The company has a long-standing relationship with the Icelandic Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard and has supplied equipment to military organizations around the world. “We’ve always had a great working relationship with the Icelandic Coast Guard. They have participated in our testing and supported our development over the years,” says Pétursdóttir. “Our dedication to testing and innovation has resulted in the Markusnet becoming the only equipment of its type with ISO approval.”

The company is continuously working towards the development of larger nets, as they believe their lighter and more cost-effective products have the potential to meet the requirements of increasingly larger vessels and oil rigs.

The R&D department of Markusnet started developing the largest nets in cooperation with the developers of moveable oil platforms. As there were no standards available for escape and rescue equipment of this scale, the company relied on decades of experience and expertise to create a solution that would suit vessels of this scale. With the same innovative spirit that produced the Markusnet, the company delivered an SCN Escape product that has been widely adopted on international oil platforms.

“We see great potential for our products, particularly as vessels and oil rigs become increasingly larger,” says Pétursdóttir. “Our largest escape nets have been supplied to large, moveable oil rigs in the Gulf of Guinea and to some of the largest vessels in the world. Our experience and innovative spirit make us well-equipped to meet the needs of these industries.”

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