Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/773724
The team on the boat, however, has a solution – they will use a special pneumatic launcher that shoots a rope with a hook directly onto the board of the ship. OK, and then? A toilsome climb upwards on the rocking side of the ship? That is total madness, but that has been the story until now. Since technical equipment of naval spe- cial units includes a specialized Atlas Devices APA-5 ascender , the time needed to get on board of a ship has been significantly decreased. Atlas Devices is an American company specialized in production and sales of technical equipment used for naval special operations and SAR operations. One of de- vices is the electrically powered APA-5 (Atlas Powered Ascender 5) that not only vastly improves the speed of getting on board of a ship, but it also reduces the amount of equipment needed for such operation. Instead of a full climbing kit, all you need is an ascender and climbing or industry class fall protection. Operators do not waste time and energy for climbing the high sides of vessels or construction elements of oil platforms, which may be of crucial importance for the success and safety of the mission, especially due to the fact that boarding is one of the most dangerous tasks. Apart from that, the APA-5 enables a safe return to the deck of the mothership. APA-5 is fully waterproof and it might be submerged to 10 meters under water (standard version) or to 30 me- ters in the APA-5Q version with additional seals. The as- cender is intended to work with standard climbing ropes with 6-11 mm diameter, even when they are wet (which is a normal situation at sea) or covered with ice – the de- vice blocks the rope and prevents from shifting. If ropes of other diameters are used, the device must be properly calibrated, but that is a simple procedure. APA-5 has a quick-charge battery that allows an hour of constant op- eration. The battery slightly looks like a Peli case (it is worthwhile to mention that the construction of the battery enables its replacement at depth and when the device is operating) and weighs about 9 kg (the weight of ascend- er is 6.5 kg) – this is no small thing, but you need to bear in mind the achievable speed of transport: a maximum of 0.76 meters per second up or down. It also provides a large lift capacity that is maximally 272 kg. That may replace a pulley system or a team of several people that would have to haul or hoist such a load. Another disadvantage HARDWARE