In april 2010 SWZ Maritime had the scoop on a new invention to protect ships from pirates: the P-Trap. Since then, the product has been further tested and developed to the extent that it is now commercially available to the shipping industry. The P-Trap will be launched at Europort.

Westmark BV, based in the Netherlands, created the P-Trap as a passive non-lethal ship protection measure. Once deployed, it protects seagoing vessels from boarding attempts by pirates. The reusable system carries thin lines which float at the waterline around the sides and at the stern of a vessel. Pirates that enter the P-Trap safety zone will run into the lines, which are designed to become entangled in their engines, disabling their vessel. The P-Trap is designed to defend against multiple simultaneous attacks and does not require crew involvement once deployed.

Since last year, Westmark has created three prototype systems, designed to fit most seagoing ships. The effectiveness of the system was proven during trials with the Dutch Coastguard, Navy & Rescue Service. Watch a video of the prototype testing below or visit the photo album SWZ posted earlier.

Below you can watch some more videos of the P-Trap.

Workings of the P-Trap

P-Trap Topview on board Dockwise MV Treasure

 

Onderwerpen: New products, Piracy, P-Trap.

SWZ Maritime editor Hugo Dill came across videos of Innespace Production's latest submersible watercraft: the Seabreacher X. As the videos will show you, it is not difficult to see what inspired this special vessel.

 

Onderwerpen: New products, Seabreacher X, SWZ Maritime.

The December edition of SWZ Maritime reported on Weighty, a new draft survey device by SARC. Below you find a video presentation.

With special thanks to SARC BV.

Onderwerpen: Draft survey, New products, research, SWZ Maritime, Weighty.