The innovative remote-controlled U SAFE life buoy was the big winner in the recent DAME design awards handed out at big METS marine equipment show in Amsterdam. Indeed, U SAFE won the top prize in the prestigious annual design competition, and it also won the award in the Lifesaving and Safety Equipment Category.
Garmin also won two awards, one for its Garmin GPSMAP 86i in the marine electronics category, and one, as a co-winner, for its Garmin Force Trolling Motor in the Machinery and Propulsion Category. The other co-winner there was the Navico GHOST Trolling Motor.
The DAME design awards were the highlight of the annual METS (Marine Equipment and Trade Show) gathering. They focus on “the art and science of design in all aspects,” including styling, functionality, and innovation. The awards are judged by a panel of naval architects, and boat, interior and industrial designers. Awards are made in seven categories, plus one for the overall winner.
Birgit Schnaase, chairman of the judging committee, said U SAFE was “an auto-propelled, remote-controlled watercraft designed to be a fast and precise aquatic robot that can reach a person in need quickly and precisely. It can be operated from a boat or on shore for casualties in the water.” (You can see it in action in the video below.)
The U SAFE life buoy is powered by two small jet engines and is controlled by a joystick. It has flush drives and large grab-holds and a U-shaped area to support the person in the water. It can run for 30 minutes and reach speeds up to 9 mph.
The winners of the 2019 DAME Design Awards are:
Overall winner: U SAFE
Marine Electronics: Garmin GPSMAP 86i
Interior Equipment and Furnishings: Lumitec Moray Flex Light
Marina Equipment, Boatyard Equipment: LIGNIA Wood Company
Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging: Karver KCW Compact Winch and KWH Winch Handle
Clothing and Crew Accessories: Mustang Callan Waterproof Jacket and Salopettes
Lifesaving and Safety Equipment: U-SAFE TRADING U SAFE
Machinery, Propulsion: Joint Winners: Garmin Force Trolling Motor, and Navico GHOST Trolling Motor.
See the video and read more:
https://www.metstrade.com/press/press-releases/articles/dame-2019-winner-usafe/
