Life Jacket Research Articles

Energy harvesting from wearable life jackets to assist search and rescue: modeling and design

Energy harvesting from wearable life jackets to assist search and rescue: modeling and design

Design and Development of an Unmanned Water Rescue Platform with Emergency Detection and Self-Inflating Life Jacket Launching Mechanism

Design and Development of an Unmanned Water Rescue Platform with Emergency Detection and Self-Inflating Life Jacket Launching Mechanism

Flexible All-Inorganic Thermoelectric Yarns.

Achieving both formability and functionality in thermoelectric materials remains a significant challenge due to their inherent brittleness. Previous approaches, such as polymer infiltration, often compromise thermoelectric efficiency, underscoring the need for flexible, all-inorganic alternatives. This study demonstrates that the extreme brittleness of thermoelectric bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) bulk compounds can be overcome by harnessing the nanoscale flexibility of Bi2Te3 nanoribbons and twisting them into a yarn structure. The resulting Bi2Te3 yarn, with a Seebeck coefficient of -126.6µVK-1, exhibits remarkable deformability, enduring extreme bending curvatures (down to 0.5mm-1) and tensile strains of ≈5% through over 1000 cycles without significant resistance change. This breakthrough allows the yarn to be seamlessly integrated into various applications-wound around metallic pipes, embedded within life jackets, or woven into garments-demonstrating unprecedented adaptability and durability. Moreover, a simple 4-pair thermoelectric generator comprising Bi2Te3 yarns and metallic wires generates a maximum output voltage of 67.4mV, substantiating the effectiveness of thermoelectric yarns in waste heat harvesting. These advances not only challenge the traditional limitations posed by the brittleness of thermoelectric materials but also open new avenues for their application in wearable and structural electronics.

Implementation of Minister of Transportation Regulation No. 819 of 2018 by the Harbormaster Office and Port Authority: Challenges, Communication Strategies, and Fishermen’s Reactions in Dumai City, Riau Province

The waters of Dumai City, Riau Province, serve as an international transportation route with a strategic position in economic and industrial growth. Minister of Transportation Regulation No. 819 of 2018 was issued to regulate shipping zones and ensure the safety of port service users. However, this regulation has sparked numerous complaints from the public, particularly fishermen, due to livelihood restrictions that directly increase operational costs. To address these negative reactions, the Dumai Port Authority Office (KSOP) plays a significant role by implementing various measures in enforcing Ministerial Regulation No. 819 of 2018. This study aims to understand the communication strategies used by the Dumai Port Authority Office, especially in coordinating with stakeholders. This research uses a qualitative method, gathering data through observation and interviews. The results show that the Dumai Port Authority Office, along with the Class I Dumai Navigation District, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional, and PT Wilmar Cahaya Asia, has a strategic role with the ability to influence policy direction and implementation. The Dumai Port Authority Office adopts strategies that involve collaboration with strategic partners, annual outreach programs, the distribution of social assistance and life jackets to the fishing community, and cooperation with relevant agencies and government institutions, including the Water Police, to monitor vessels violating regulations. Additionally, KSOP involves the participation of the community and companies, including the certification and standardization of maritime safety instruments. This study contributes to the discussion on the effectiveness of communication strategies in maritime policy implementation, where this approach can enhance understanding and acceptance of regulations within the maritime community.

"It Feels Like Being in Jail All Over Again": Staging the Criminalized Liminality of Sex Offenders

Abstract: Two plays focusing on the postincarceration experiences of sex offenders opened in 2018: Life Jacket Theatre Company's America Is Hard to See and Bruce Norris's Downstate . Both plays ask spectators to recognize the humanity of sex offenders while also keeping in mind the harm they caused. The questions at the heart of these plays are ultimately about ethics and space: how close do we as a society want to allow sex offenders? These plays stage the movement, space, and time—the spatiotemporality—of postincarceration carceral geographies and the embodied state of what I term "criminalized liminality." In this article, I pursue a two-pronged approach to examine how these plays explore the spatiotemporality of criminalized liminality: primarily, I employ critical spatial perspectives to address how the focus on the ethics of space in America and Downstate emphasizes theatre itself as a space of ethical engagement for artists and audiences; and, secondarily, that as a result of their content and form, each play invites spectators to consider what it means to act on and offstage. I ultimately conclude that although these plays invite consideration of alternatives to the criminal punishment system like abolition, their real power lies in their ultimate ambivalence. Each unsettles spectators without providing clear answers. The spatiotemporality of criminalized liminality and the slippage created by acting produce a certain generative uncertainty.

Efforts to prevent oil spills in bunker supply activities at Pertamina Trans Kontinental Plaju Branch

This study aims to identify and understand the consequences of marine pollution caused by oil spills from the operation of ships used for maritime transport. Data collection methods include library research, documentation, and descriptive data from various sources. The study highlights the importance of effective pollution prevention strategies to minimize the negative impacts of oil spills on marine ecosystems and aquatic environments. The main issue addressed is the prevention of oil spills before they spread and cause extensive damage to ecosystems. The theoretical framework used is human resource management theory related to safety and marine pollution prevention. Data collection methods include observation, interviews, and literature review. Data analysis is conducted through triangulation and continuously until data saturation is achieved. The results indicate that regular training on oil spill handling for all workers is essential. Additionally, the mandatory use of personal protective equipment, such as safety shoes, helmets, and special life jackets, is crucial to prevent fatal consequences from work accidents.

Climate change: A pointer to increased small-scale fisher drowning deaths.

Drowning is an overlooked public health concern and drowning risk is dependent on environmental risk factors. The preponderance of drowning deaths occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Small-scale fishers face high occupational risk of drowning. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, thereby exacerbating fishers' risks and creating a need to examine the contribution of storms to fisher drowning deaths for the development of mitigation strategies. We examined this relationship between weather and fisher drowning deaths in Lake Victoria, which is Africa's largest lake, a site of high fishing pressure, and where climate change is predicted to increase thunderstorms. We conducted a verbal autopsy with people knowledgeable about recent fatal fisher drowning incidents to collect information about the deceased fishers and circumstances surrounding the incidents across 43 landing sites in the Kenyan shore of Lake Victoria. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders also elucidated community perspectives on drowning risks. Fatal drownings were often attributed to bad weather (41.8%). Other risk factors, such as non-use of life jacket and navigation equipment, co-occurred with bad weather at high rates (69.5% and 67.8%, respectively) to jointly contribute to fatal drowning incidents. Such co-occurrence of risk factors indicates that actions across multiple risk factors can help mitigate the issue. Stakeholder analysis revealed a range of opportunities for improved communication of risks and action to mitigate risks across boat operators and manufacturers, as well as multiple levels of management. Across global small-scale fisheries, limited use of safety equipment and intensive fishing pressure may coincide with increases in extreme weather events, necessitating action to address current and mitigate future drowning risks to small-scale fishers.

Multi-layer material combination for manufaturing stab-proof life jackets

In modern times, individuals working in aquatic environments such as fishermen, fishery inspectors, customs officers, and others require a device that offers protection against punctures and drowning. As a result, a multi-layer composite material consisting of para-aramid 200de woven fabric, Dyneema® SB31 coated plates, and foam was evaluated for the creation of a life jacket that combines stab-proof capabilities with anti-drowning features (stab-proof life jacket). The objective of the research was to determine the optimal number of layers and arrangement of the multi-layer composite materials that would meet the NIJ standard level 1 protection against punctures. The study findings demonstrated that utilizing both types of woven fabric and coated plates yielded the most desirable puncture resistance, considering the thickness and weight of the composite materials. The effectiveness of using only woven fabric ranked second, while relying solely on coated plates produced less satisfactory results. Placing the puncture-resistant material above the foam layer proved to be more effective than placing it beneath the foam layer in all three scenarios. These findings lay the groundwork for the design and development of stab-proof life jackets tailored to the needs of professionals in specific aquatic industries. Keywords: Puncture-resistant life vest, puncture-resistant, multi-layer composite, aramid, UHMWPE

An intelligent self‐powered life jacket system integrating multiple triboelectric fiber sensors for drowning rescue

AbstractThe inherent unpredictability of the maritime environment leads to low rates of survival during accidents. Life jackets serve as a crucial safety measure in underwater environments. Nonetheless, most conventional life jackets lack the capability to monitor the wearer's underwater body movements, impeding their effectiveness in rescue operations. Here, we present an intelligent self‐powered life jacket system (SPLJ) composed of a wireless body area sensing network, a set of deep learning analytics, and a human condition detection platform. Six coaxial core‐shell structure triboelectric fiber sensors with high sensitivity, stretchability, and flexibility are integrated into this system. Additionally, a portable integrated circuit module is incorporated into the SPLJ to facilitate real‐time monitoring of the wearer's movement. Moreover, by leveraging the deep‐learning‐assisted data analytics and establishing a robust correlation between the wearer's movements and condition, we have developed a comprehensive system for monitoring drowning individuals, achieving an outstanding recognition accuracy of 100%. This groundbreaking work introduces a fresh approach to underwater intelligent survival devices, offering promising prospects for advancing underwater smart wearable devices in rescue operations and the development of ocean industry.image

"And this is the life jacket, the lifeline they've been wanting": Participant perspectives on navigating challenges and successes of prescribed safer supply.

In 2021, 43% of drug toxicity deaths in Ontario were reported by public health units serving medium-sized urban and rural communities. Safer supply programs (SSPs) have been primarily established in large urban centres. Given this, the current study is based on an evaluation of a SSP based in a medium-sized urban centre with a large catchment area that includes rural and Indigenous communities. The aim of this research paper is to understand the challenges and successes of the nurse practitioner-led SSP from the perspective of program participants. Interpretive description was used to understand the experiences of 14 participants accessing a SSP. Each participant was interviewed using a semi-structured approach, and 13 of the interviewees also completed surveys accessed through Qualtrics. An iterative process using NVivo software was used to code interviews, and a constant comparative data analysis approach was used to refine and categorize codes to themes. Three overarching themes were the result of this analysis: feeling better, renewed hope, and safety. These three themes capture the experiences of participants in the SSP, including both the challenges and successes they faced. The findings and subsequent discussion focus on both the key best practices of the program, and areas for future development and improvement. Despite barriers to services, prescribed SSPs are improving the lives of people who use drugs, and the current outcomes align with reports and evaluations from other SSPs across Canada.

Socialization of Safety Factors for Passengers of Traditional Ship Crossing Transport at Muara Angke Port Jakarta

The orderliness of service and operation of facilities and infrastructure is relatively low, and many factors contribute to it, such as the weak awareness of ship owners and companies in implementing an effective and implementable safety system in the field, the seaworthiness of ships that are more oriented towards certification which in fact is not supported by careful inspection, as well as supervision carried out by the government on the implementation (drilling) of shipping safety requirements is inconsistent. The purpose of socialization to passengers who use traditional wooden ships is "Socialization of Safety Factors for Passengers of Traditional Ship Crossing Transport at Muara Angke Port Jakarta" the purpose of socialization is to prevent opportunities for violations in shipping not using Ring Life Buoys, Life Jackets and unethical behavior of ships passengers.

Enhancing two-stage object detection models via data-driven anchor box optimization in UAV-based maritime SAR

The high-altitude imaging capabilities of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) offer an effective solution for maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. In such missions, the accurate identification of boats, personnel, and objects within images is crucial. While object detection models trained on general image datasets can be directly applied to these tasks, their effectiveness is limited due to the unique challenges posed by the specific characteristics of maritime SAR scenarios. Addressing this challenge, our study leverages the large-scale benchmark dataset SeaDronesSee, specific to UAV-based maritime SAR, to analyze and explore the unique attributes of image data in this scenario. We identify the need for optimization in detecting specific categories of difficult-to-detect objects within this context. Building on this, an anchor box optimization strategy is proposed based on clustering analysis, aimed at enhancing the performance of the renowned two-stage object detection models in this specialized task. Experiments were conducted to validate the proposed anchor box optimization method and to explore the underlying reasons for its effectiveness. The experimental results show our optimization method achieved a 45.8% and a 10% increase in average precision over the default anchor box configurations of torchvision and the SeaDronesSee official sample code configuration respectively. This enhancement was particularly evident in the model’s significantly improved ability to detect swimmers, floaters, and life jackets on boats within the SeaDronesSee dataset’s SAR scenarios. The methods and findings of this study are anticipated to provide the UAV-based maritime SAR research community with valuable insights into data characteristics and model optimization, offering a meaningful reference for future research.

APPLYING DESIGN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO OPTIMIZE COMFORT, SAFETY, AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS IN THE REDESIGN OF ACCOMMODATION ROOMS ON THE SHIP KM TAREX 2

In late December 2021, the ship KM Tarex 2, owned by PT. Pelayaran Mandala Sejahtera Abadi, underwent its annual docking at PT. Tambangan Permai Raya. During this time, the ship was found to be in a state of disrepair, including its accommodation rooms. The ship's current condition, feedback from stakeholders, and financial considerations served as the catalyst for a comprehensive interior redesign, with a primary focus on enhancing comfort, safety, and economy. The interior redesign of the accommodation spaces on the ship KM Tarex 2 involved the exploration of two alternative design concepts. These concepts centered around the Owner's Room, Crew's Room, Messroom and Life Jacket Storage. Alternative Design 1 adopted a Contemporary Concept, while Alternative Design 2 embraced a Modern Minimalist concept. The selection process for these designs involved soliciting feedback from a panel of 18 individuals, consisting of 12 representatives from PT. Pelayaran Mandala Sejahtera Abadi, 3 individuals from PT. Tambangan Permai Raya, and 3 crew members of the ship KM Tarex 2. Ultimately, Alternative Design 1 garnered an average approval rating of 67% across all rooms, surpassing Alternative Design 2 in preference. The selected design alternatives were evaluated for compliance with regulatory standards, achieving a 100% compliance rate for each room and an average comfort rating of 40%. Additionally, the chosen materials, as determined through a Google Form questionnaire, included ALUMETAL brand ACP Materials for room lining and ceiling, along with Henan Fortovan brand LVT for ship deck covering. These materials received an average approval rating of 61%. Economically, the analysis of material costs demonstrated that the project could be undertaken without exceeding the ship's annual income, ensuring financial feasibility.

Intelligent safety life jacket using LoRa technology

This paper introduces an intelligent safety life jacket enhanced with Long Range (LoRa) technology to address the pressing need for improved water safety measures. The proposed life jacket integrates cutting-edge features to offer a comprehensive safety solution for both recreational users and professionals in aquatic environments. Key functionalities include automatic inflation upon immersion, GPS-based location tracking, and real-time monitoring of vital signs through embedded biometric sensors. Leveraging LoRa technology enables the life jacket to transmit distress signals over extended distances, facilitating swift and precise rescue operations. Additionally, machine learning algorithms are employed to analyze sensor data, enabling the detection of potential emergencies such as sudden immersion or irregularities in vital signs. This proactive approach enhances safety by enabling early intervention and accident prevention. Overall, the integration of intelligent features with LoRa technology represents a significant advancement in water safety, with the potential to save lives and elevate safety standards in aquatic activities worldwide. These capabilities are also applicable to water accident scenarios where individuals immersed in cold water face similar risks of hypothermia, and this device could provide crucial monitoring and alert capabilities in such situations.

LoRa based long-range traceable life jacket system design

It is recorded that around 100 people per year die due to fishing boat accidents, the majority of whom are small fishermen with vessels under 10 GT. LoRa is a license-free power-saving long-distance communication technology that can send data packets of up to 15 km in the ocean. The longrange power can be used to determine the location of fishermen when an accident occurs at sea. This research aims to implement and test the performance of LoRa Ebyte E22-400T30D for sending coordinate data on fishermen’s whereabouts in the form of life jackets. The performance observed is the relationship between the distance and the RSSI value obtained. The tests were performed until the furthest distance was reached. The test was carried out at Pangandaran Beach, and the receiver was placed at an altitude of 129 m toward the beach. The data will be displayed and stored on the Thinger.io website. The test results obtained with the furthest distance achieved were 12.983 km with a battery life of 5.99 hours. The RSSI value obtained tended to worsen with increasing distance. Apart from the distance, it was also found that obstructions in the form of trees could reduce the RSSI value.

Life Jacket Usage and Effectiveness in Drowning Prevention

Abstract Drowning is a critical public health concern, ranking third among unintentional injury-related global deaths. Vulnerable groups, notably children and non-swimmers, are disproportionately affected, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the highest brunt. Life jackets are pivotal in preventing drowning, offering buoyancy and safety during water activities. This review evaluates life jackets’ effectiveness, examining usage, efficacy, influencing factors and technological advances. The findings show that life jackets significantly reduce drowning risks. However, the user behaviour, environmental factors and regulations influence their effectiveness. Targeted interventions and educational programmes are essential, addressing demographic disparities and promoting affordability, accessibility and cultural acceptance. The review confirms life jacket’s effectiveness in drowning prevention. However, their impact depends on various factors, necessitating tailored interventions and education programmes.

EDUKASI KESEHATAN DAN KESELAMATAN KERJA PADA NELAYAN

Fishermen are one of the communities in the waters that need attention from the government in terms of health. Ignoring the safety of fishermen will have an impact on increasing expenditure in the economic sector because there are medical costs that must be borne and also have an effect on the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to increase education related to health and the benefits of working safety equipment for fishermen. This educational activity was carried out by distributing leaflets and outreach to the homes and fishermen's bases of Negeri Hitumessing, Leihittu District, Central Maluku Regency. There were 21 respondents; only 4 fishermen had swimming floats, only around 19%, and only 2 had swimming goggles, or around 10% of the total respondents. Not all fishermen also have fishing boats, or the local people call them babongs. Only about 38% or 7 fishermen own a boat. Only 1 or 5% of the ships have goggles; similarly, only 1 has a life jacket. The results of community service activities are expected so that fishermen can understand occupational health and safety, its impact, and the importance of occupational health and safety.

Implementation Of Safety Equipment Above Kmp. Nusa Penida, Kmp. Nusa Bhakti And Kmp. Nusa Sakti Operates In Padangbai Port

The Padangbai Ferry terminal is a port managed by the BPTD XII Bali and West Nusa Tenggara. The Padangbai ferry terminal serves 2 routes with 26 Ro-Ro ships in operation. One of the important components in ferry transportation is safety. Safety is shown not only to service users but also to ship crews. On ships operating at the Padangbai Ferry Terminal, there are many damaged safety equipment including life jackets, lifebuoys, lifeboats and Fire protection (fire Extinguisher) the number of safety equipment that does not match the ship's needs based on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The condition and number of safety equipment and Fire protection must be considered both in terms of the appropriateness of the tools and fittings so that in an emergency the existing safety equipment can be used properly as a form of carrying out the safety aspects of passengers on board. The number and condition of safety equipment and Fire protection that is not in accordance with the needs can endanger the safety of the lives of passengers if an accident occurs. The number of safety equipment must be able to accommodate the number of passengers and crew on board and fire extinguishers must be in good condition so that they can be used in a fire emergency.

Investigation of reactor temperature and performance of syngas cooling system for vacuum gasification of soaked biomass

Vacuum-soaked biomass gasification is a method being developed to replace fossil fuels in a safe, simple, and reliable manner. The biomass gasification process demands high temperatures in the region of 800–1000 °C, yet even when applying vacuum pressure and soaking the biomass, the experimental results of the gasification temperature can be maintained properly. Cyclone and heat exchanger system, the reactor's syngas exit temperature, which is typically 600 °C, and may be lowered to under 50 °C. The heat exchanger's temperature profile indicates that 8 m are the most practical/ideal length. The heat exchanger's effectiveness is almost perfect (0.99) and higher than in earlier experiments (0.43–0.55). The use of an open-water jacket improves the performance of the heat exchanger by lowering the LMTD by 33.60% and lowering the heat transfer rate by 24.55%. Open-water life jackets do not significantly improve effectiveness.

A flexible and transparent superhydrophobic coating on cotton fabrics with high mechanical and chemical stability for underwater insulation

Achieving both stretchability and excellent transparency of superhydrophobic surfaces simultaneously is a major challenge. We utilize three acrylic monomers 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate to polymerize flexible, transparent, low surface energy random copolymers (PHMK) as the coating. The coating has excellent transparency (90.2 %) and the coated elastic cotton fabric exhibits superhydrophobicity (WCA = 160°) even at the tensile strain of 0–300 %. The water droplets on the surface can bounce repeatedly in a stretched state. The coating has excellent chemical and mechanical stability and maintains superhydrophobicity under various treatments such as in various organic solvents and HCl (pH = 1) immersion, 20 washing cycles, the Martindale abrasion test 1000 times, and the tape peeling test 600 times. In addition, the coated cotton fabric also has excellent underwater thermal insulation performance, which has great potential application in fields such as life jackets.