Holdback magnets aid ferry safety

A Stephenson Gobin product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 23, 2003

A UK manufacturer's electromagnets are being installed for security and safety while P and O crosschannel ferries are in service between Dover and Calais.

A UK manufacturer's electromagnets are being installed for security and safety while P and O crosschannel ferries are in service between Dover and Calais.

The Pride of Kent, Pride of Canterbury and Pride of Burgundy roll-on/roll-off ferries are using Stephenson Gobin's IP65 holdback magnets on deck doors mainly to prevent passengers accessing the car decks during the passage.

They operate on doors between stairwells and passenger lounges and once the doors have been locked from the bridge, areas of the ferries are restricted to passengers.

The electromagnets, with holding forces up to 3000N for door locking, also provide a door opening and unlocking function at certain times onboard the ferries.

"We were struggling to find a suitable magnet both to hold doors open and lock them", said John Harvey, Managing Director of JRV, marine electrical contractor to P and O.

"Two of the ships underwent superstructure refurbishments when shot bolts were fitted to doors, but these would not provide a fail-safe system.

It was a P and O electrical technical officer on board Pride of Burgundy who recommended us to Stephenson Gobin's electromagnets.

"We decided to give the holdback magnets a try on the new locking doors which have been fitted on the ships and as a result we are now drawing off more of them for this purpose".

"A door fitted with a holdback magnet will close for security, but can also be unlocked and held open".

"It is possible in the future that we can develop the electromagnets to offer different voltages".

JRV, of the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, has been an independent marine electrical contractor to P and O for the last 15 years.

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