Although primarily associated with recreational activities,
personal watercrafts also have a very important function as life
rescuing vessels. Lives have been saved thanks to the
manoeuvrability and speed of the PWC. Today, many safety
enforcements such as the French Red Cross use
personal watercraft in their everyday work.
Please note that this video is a
dramatisation.
Advantages of using PWCs for life saving
Better
mobility and operability in rough weather and water
- Capacity of going through shallow coastal waters that a boat
cannot go through, such as areas with coral reefs or in the surf
zones close to the beach
- Absence of projections such as propeller and tiller enhances
safety when nearing swimmers
- High speed enables rapid approach to drowning persons
- Better controllability makes approaching drowning persons
easier
- Good water tightness ensures easy recovery in case of
capsizing
- Compact body means a smaller storage space
Other examples of professionals that rely on personal
watercrafts for their crucial work are the police, border patrol,
coast guard and beach safety managers.
