The Markusnet, the missing link in marine safety The Markus Lifenet Man Over Board (MOB) Safety and Rescue Concept.

An article written by Petur Th. Petursson in April 2001

General purpose
The Markusnet is a simple, effective, reliable and reusable product to enable a single rescuer to react to a Man Over Board (MOB) situation and two MOB rescuers to lift a MOB on board manually simultaneously in seconds. The Markusnet can also be used by crane and provides possibilities to lift / hoist MOB in standing, sitting in, sitting out and in horizontal position (manual lifting height in horizontal position depend on length of outer knot-line "C", but manual lifting height in sitting and standing position depend on length of inner knot-lines "B").

Man over board rescue know-how
The Markusnet is a rescue system that brings on board a deck boat, ship or offshore installation, a know-how and possibilities to train and make use of this know-how on board. The main purpose is to enable masters of a deck boat, ship, offshore installation or harbour, to educate and train his crew / staff to be professional MOB rescuers at sea and in harbours and become a part of international MOB safety chain, with the common aim to reduce MOB accidents at sea, reduce risk to MOB rescuers and to increase possibilities of MOB rescue at sea and in harbours.

The Markusnet is a MOB safety and rescue system that adds value to):

1.    The deck-boat, ship, offshore installation and the quay. As the Markusnet with suitable lengths of lifting lines is added in the right numbers onto these locations these places become a MOB rescue platform, which can be used in rough weather and sea conditions, while MOB rescuer can stand on deck and anywhere along the side of the vessel or quay.
2.    The crew / staff. It enables the crew to train and become professional MOB rescuers at a minimum cost to the Company and thereby take responsibility, required by the profession, in international conventions like SOLAS, Torremolinos and EC Directives.
The Markusnet can also be important means to disembark a ship or offshore installation in emergency situations where height can form a trap.
3.    The life-buoy. The recognised purpose of the life-buoy today is only to locate the person in the sea and provide buoyancy. It is not believed to be the ideal lifting tool. The Markusnet provides the possibility to lift / hoist the MOB in several positions without putting too much strain on the casualty and while the MOB rescuer is able to stand on the rescue platform (deck).
4.    The life-raft. The Markusnet is able to enable very safe transport of people from life-raft onto a life-boat or larger ship in rough sea (See page 8 in the Markus Lifenet Safety and Rescue Training Guide).
5.    The MOB rescue boat. The Markusnet provides second security to MOB rescue boat operation and spare time if there is a need to transport people from such a boat on to a ship in a search and rescue operation.
6.    The immersion suit, float working suit. The Markusnet enables safe in-water rescue and rescue training in conjunction with use of immersion suit and float working suit.

These standard safety equipment already required on board most ships, provide participating crewmembers safety. The in-water rescuer should be wearing suitable dry-suit, buoyancy aid and hoisting harness whenever possible.

The education and training material, which is supplied with the Markusnet, provide the necessary know-how, instruction and research conclusions, to minimise the risk in in-water rescue and rescue training operations.

This is done by applying the MOB safety and rescue policy recommended, which includes finding out in advance, who of the crew members / staff is most capable and willing to take on the task of being an in-water rescuer, and provide this person / persons the authority to purchase the equipment needed and the time and the authority to participate in specialised in-water rescue courses, train himself / them selves as needed and to train the crew to be his / their backup team in case of in-water rescue operation at sea.