An "airbag" for tuna boats past the latest tests prior to being commercialized.
The system, developed by the Galician Company Kafloat, is specifically applicable to avoid the sinking of vessels due to water route. The product operates in a similar way to that of a car “airbagâ€.
The system successfully past the tests that took place at the dock of shipyard Astilleros de Huelva. During the experiment, it was able to avoid the sinking of a 26 meter-long vessel, thanks to the floating of twelve giant bulbs. The technicians caused a route of water in the 240 ton of weight boat, until 80% of the storage capacity was filled with water; 70,000 liters were needed.
Immediately afterwards 12 floating elements -6 at each flank of the boat -, unfolded from stern to prow, these were manually activated, two at a time. Without difficulty, the inflated devices were able to support the full load and avoid the ship from sinking.
Company sources explained that the boat was to remain afloat during a three-day period to verify the resistance of the floating elements and to detect possible loss of gas or any other possible deficiencies.
According to Kafloat calculations, the product will be introduced in the market within a year. Kafloat added that the recent performed tests are sufficient to affirm that "it will be a reasonable priced product", although no price indication was given.
