Before a fire can be fought, before a rescue can begin – you need to know where every person on board is. On a large Ro-Ro vessel, that is not always straightforward. Crew positioning can make all the difference
During an onboard emergency, the bridge faces an immediate problem: crew members may be spread across multiple decks, in machinery spaces, on the car deck, or in areas with poor radio coverage. A traditional muster takes time. And on a vessel where conditions can change rapidly, that time matters.
For operations involving CO2 fire suppression in enclosed spaces, the stakes are particularly high. Before the system can be activated, officers must confirm that the area is clear of personnel. Without reliable crew positioning, that confirmation depends on manual checks – a process that is both slow and uncertain under pressure.
Each crew member wears a small LifeFinder device. Beacons throughout the vessel are detected by every device, which relays its position to a live overview on the bridge. The system operates independently – no mobile network, no interference with existing wireless infrastructure – and is ready to integrate with your IT and automation systems.
In the event of an alarm, the officer on watch can see the location of all personnel within seconds. The system does not require crew to take any action – it works continuously in the background during normal operations. The location data is only activated in case of an emergency.
The platform was developed to integrate with existing vessel layouts and safety procedures, and can be installed without taking the vessel out of service.
Following a year-long pilot on board the vessle M/V Patriot, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) – part of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group – is deploying the LifeFinder platform across its entire fleet of ten U.S.-flag Ro-Ro vessels.
LifeFinder worked closely with ARC to tailor the platform to the specific vessel layout, safety procedures and operational requirements. The pilot demonstrated that fast and reliable onboard positioning improves coordination during drills by giving bridge and safety teams immediate visibility into crew location and status.
“Investments like this show a serious commitment to protecting the men and women who operate these vessels.”
Jordan Biscardo, Communications Director, Seafarers International Union.
privacy by design
The platform does not log or store crew positions during normal operations. Location data is only recorded and made available when an alert condition is active – triggered automatically by the system, or by the crew member.
Built for tough environments – wear on the wrist, clip to workwear, or on a lanyard.
On vessels, installation can be done in service – no dry dock required.
Once the infrastructure is in place, new applications and sensor configurations can be added without new cabling or major works.