Tassie technology saves lives after ferry bursts into flames

Tasmanian technology has been credited with saving lives in Canada last week after passengers and crew were forced to flee a burning ship. WATCH THE EVACUATION >>

Tasmanian technology has been credited with saving lives in Canada last week after passengers and crew were forced to flee a burning ship.

More than 200 people were safely evacuated from the ferry connecting Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room at around 11am on Friday, according to local media reports.

No injuries were reported, as two 20m evacuation slides connected to two 100-person inflatable life rafts were deployed to save the passengers and crew from the ship.

The bright orange slides and life rafts – known as marine evacuation systems – were designed and manufactured in Derwent Park by Hobart company Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA).

After sliding down, the evacuees huddled on the rafts, one on either side of the vessel, before they were rescued by a local aboard his fishing boat and taken to shore.

LSA said the MES was deployed “perfectly … without any problems whatsoever”. Picture: Facebook/John Kenny

LSA managing director Mike Grainger said the systems “absolutely” saved lives on Friday.

“The system was the only way they could get the passengers and crew off the ship so if they hadn’t been able to deploy the system, for example, lives may have been lost,” Mr Grainger said.

“We believe it’s the lightest, safest, most compact marine evacuation system.

“It’s very well-recognised around the world as being one of the best marine evacuation systems on the market.”

Mr Grainger said LSA’s technology could be found “all over the world” attached to all types of vessels, such as passenger ferries, navy ships and super yachts.

Passengers were rescued by a local aboard his fishing boat. Picture: Facebook/Claire Delisle

In a statement on its website, LSA said the marine evacuation system was deployed “perfectly … without any problems whatsoever”.

“All passengers were evacuated safely and without injury,” the statement read.

“It is expected that the deployed equipment will be serviced and reinstalled on the vessel at a later date.”

One woman, who was evacuated from the ferry, posted on Facebook that she felt like she was on a “smaller version of Titanic”.

“(It) had been a great trip until the alarm went off,” she posted.

“We walked outside and saw a lot of heavy black smoke from the top deck.

“We soon got put into life jacket and they started to inflate the evacuation slides.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau happened to be visiting Prince Edward Island on Friday and said his heart went out to everyone who had been affected.

Originally published as Tassie technology saves lives after ferry bursts into flames