Satnews Daily
November 30th, 2017

Cobham SATCOM's SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter Radio Fulfills SOLAS Regulation


Cobham SATCOM’s SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter has been developed as the world’s first portable radio made specifically for fulfilling the new SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 10.10.4 — 'Fire Fighters Communication’ — SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter is a simple and cost-effective way for workboat operators with vessels over 300 gt to meet the new rules, which come into force in July of 2018.

SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 10 contains requirements for the fire fighter outfits needed on board, and how many outfits are required for a specific vessel, with a minimum of two. The SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio meets standards set out that require approx. 65,000 (existing) SOLAS vessels, including thousands of workboats operating in the Gulf of Mexico and globally, to provide intrinsically safe portable radios within the regulated fire fighter outfits on board. While designed specifically for SOLAS vessels, Cobham SATCOM’s new portable radio also supports a significant portion of the workboat sector operating non-SOLAS vessels, which still follow the regulations as a guideline to ensure operational safety.


Cobham SATCOM's SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter radio.

The SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio is bright red in color, signalling to crew members on board that the radio should not be used for daily operations and must stay as part of the fire fighter outfit. Uniquely, this is the only maritime radio system to accommodate spare emergency battery packs. As standard, it features an ATEX 1.800 mAh rechargeable Li-Ion Battery, IP67 battery pack; however, Cobham SATCOM also offers intrinsically safe approved non-rechargeable emergency batteries, providing an extra level of security to ensure communication is available when a fire breaks out, or rechargeable batteries run-down.

The SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio is a cost-effective response for workboat and ship owners to the logistical challenges of equipping their vessels between now and their first survey after July 2018. It is also a highly reliable and effective communication tool that can be counted on by fire fighters in extreme, hazardous environments on board. Based on highly reliable and intrinsically safe SAILOR radio technology, the SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio features functions specifically designed to keep fire fighters safe including a high visibility screen, large tactile buttons and audio confirmations of i.e. channel changes in the operator’s compatible SAVOX or Peltor brand headset.


The SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio meets standards set out that require approx. 65,000 (existing) SOLAS vessels, including thousands of workboats operating in the Gulf of Mexico and globally, to provide intrinsically safe portable radios .

Niels Peter Agdal, Business Manager, Maritime Radio Communications, Cobham SATCOM, stated that the new SOLAS regulations apply to a significant portion of the workboat market and the SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio is a great way to ensure compliance, especially as the company's production has been designed to meet the expected demand in the coming month. While the SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter portable radio helps owners and operators to easily access the required SOLAS equipment before the deadline next year, the company has also ensured its design and functionality reflects recognized SAILOR quality, helping to keep designated fire fighters safe during emergency operations on board.