Scubar Case Studies
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue
Fire and Rescue services are frequently called to situations where they need to carry out underwater searches. Not only is there a possibility that a victim may be trapped beneath the water, but the actual process of sub-surface search possess a great risk to the rescuer.
Sub Officer Bob Wibberly from the Berkshire Fire Brigade was facing all these issues and identified that the ideal solution is a system that is reliable, easy to use, quick to deploy and cost effective.
After receiving the Scubar system Bob quoted, “At the moment we don't have any provision to go sub-surface, short of Police divers who can be 24 hours away. We get called to sub-surface incidents anyway and in the past we had to trawl the riverbed with ladders attached to lines to try to locate bodies. This (Scubar) is ideal to search instead. It has been haphazard in the past. This equipment has brought us on in leaps and bounds.”
When you consider the versatility Scubar offers, Bob also realised other areas where it could help to improve search methods. “We would also look to use it to look into tight spaces such as lofts and when dogs get stuck into badger sets, which we are not allowed to dig out by law.”
Royal Navy Fleet Auxiliary
Scubar was primarily designed for purposes where accessibility and health and safety were issues. In the summer of 2005, after a trial with three Scubar systems, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary equipped each of their 20 vessels with a Scubar system.
Because of the size of the vessels in question, Second Officer Roy Sturrock had identified a need for an extension pole longer than the standard 1.5-4.5 meter system and asked if Iris could meet their requirements. Because Iris build the Scubar from Scratch at their Hamble offices, it was possible to supply a lightweight, tough telescopic pole system that fitted the bill perfectly.
Shortly after the 10 meter kits had been distributed Roy Sturrock contacted Iris to tell them he had received a signal from one of their vessels on excercise that had been hit by a container. With Scubar at hand, the ships crewe were able to inspect the damage and ascertain that the hull was in sound condition and that the excercise could continue. The crewe member responsible quoted, “the system has paid for itself already after this one incident.”
Netherlands Coast Guard
Having discovered Scubar at the Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in Amsterdam 2004, Paul Hollander from the Dutch Coast Guard realised the many applications it could fulfill.
Scubar is now used aboard their vessels for contraband searches and general day to day maintenance.
“We use the Scubar during inspections and the search for narcotics, as well as on our own vessel in case of repairs and during maintenance, e.g. looking for leaks, loosened parts.
We have a professional dive team that we tend to bring to the ancorages in order to check suspect ships.
Prior to diving we use the Scubar to pre-inspect the areas around the rudder and propeller, ( also above it for stowaways ) while waiting for the right tide and save dive time.”
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