New invention to enhance safety in ports is heading to the world market. Port of Horsens is the third Danish port to install LifeLadder®.

Copenhagen, January 12th 2018

“It is different… as such it is a rather simple product with a straightforward construction, but the LifeLadder® lights up the dark, to put it plainly”.

So says Claus Holm Christensen, Port Director in Port of Horsens, who has signed an agreement with Port Safety for the delivery of four new rescue ladders. The rescue ladders will be mounted in the industrial area of Port of Horsens. If LifeLadder® meets the expectations, Port of Horsens will consider investing in additional ladders.

“I heard about the new Danish rescue ladder for the first time at a conference in Barcelona during the summer and immediately thought that it sounded exciting. In Port of Horsens, we would like to help develop things and improve safety – both for the port’s employees, seamen working aboard the ships that dock in the port and the city’s residents. As we were also due to replace several of the old rescue ladders, it made sense to choose LifeLadder®”.

According to Claus Holm Christensen, the obvious advantage of the LifeLadder® is, that it is built in reinforced, yellow plastic making it robust and easy to spot. In addition, the rescue ladder is illuminated at night by LED lights.

“We don’t expect the rescue ladder to increase the value of the port as such, but in relation to saving lives, it’s a very small investment, which can make a tremendous difference. With a growth of 2-4%, we experience increased activity in Port of Horsens, and ships are unloaded and loaded 24/7. Often, the goods are placed at the edge of the quayside, which can be greasy and slippery. Here, it makes great sense to do everything we can to increase safety”, says Claus Holm Christensen.

The production of LifeLadder® begins in a few weeks. Besides Port of Horsens, Port of Aarhus and Svendborg municipality are also engaged in the testing and market development program, supported by the Market Development Fund. In addition to the three Danish ports, Port of Helsingborg in Sweden and Mourik, a Dutch lock servicing company, are also taking part in the program. 

A ladder saving lives…
LifeLadder® is a new and innovative maritime safety device. It is designed for industrial as well as urban quays, locks, waterways and marinas. Visibility both day and night delivers improved maritime safety. The choice of maintenance-free materials addresses issues of costs and time spent on upkeep.
Quite often, traditional rescue ladders mounted on piers, bridges and quays are hard to spot as they do not distinguish themselves from the dark surfaces in the harbour. Especially at night, they are difficult to see. Despite frequent maintenance, traditional ladders manufactured in steel are subject to accelerated corrosion.
Data collected in Denmark document that 25% of drowning accidents occur in harbours. The need to improve safety is increasing as more industrial harbours are urbanised.
LifeLadder® addresses the requirement for improved safety with a maintenance-free solution, which is visible both day and night. LifeLadder® is constructed in reinforced plastic, moulded in a bright yellow and UV-resistant colour. The modules are clamped together with a synthetic rope. A patent has been filed for this construction.