Survitec XChange Programme earns repeat IBJ recognition for marine safety performance
Iain Hoey
Share this content
Survitec recognised for XChange Programme at IBJ Awards
Survitec, a survival technology company, has won the Safety in Bulk Handling (Marine) category at the International Bulk Journal Awards for its XChange Programme, a service-led model for managing liferafts and immersion suits across the global shipping industry.
According to Survitec, the judges highlighted the programme’s focus on service delivery and its impact on safety, logistics and environmental performance.
Judges for the International Bulk Journal Awards described the XChange Programme as: “service-led innovation transforming how marine safety equipment is managed across the global shipping industry.
“The programme is setting a new standard in maritime safety, logistics, and sustainability.”
Metkel Yohannes, Director of Product and Solutions at Survitec, said: “This award is a testament to the dedication of our team and the trust our customers place in Survitec.
“XChange is not just an operational solution; it is a strategic advantage that sets new benchmarks for operators across the maritime industry.
“Since its launch, the programme has demonstrated clear market acceptance and operational value.
“XChange has grown to serve vessels across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, maintaining an average renewal rate of 95%.
“Operators consistently cite cost control, the removal of downtime, and full compliance management as the primary reasons for adopting the programme.”
Service-led model replaces traditional ownership and servicing
Survitec explained that the XChange Programme replaces conventional ownership and servicing arrangements with a flexible model based on ready-to-use liferafts and immersion suits supplied and exchanged in port.
Under this approach, equipment is delivered in a fully compliant state and swapped during port calls, rather than being taken out of service for inspection or recertification.
The company reported that this removes the uncertainty associated with traditional servicing, where operators may face delays ranging from six to 48 hours while equipment is checked and approved.
Survitec stated that vessels enrolled in XChange always sail with fully certified equipment, while the company manages compliance schedules, logistics and rotation of assets.
According to the company, this allows operators to maintain focus on vessel operations while Survitec oversees inspection intervals and certification requirements.
Addressing downtime, compliance and administrative burden
Survitec noted that ship operators have historically faced unpredictable downtime, servicing bottlenecks and expiring certificates when working with conventional safety-equipment ownership models.
The company added that these issues have been compounded by the environmental impact of prematurely disposing of equipment that still has serviceable life.
The XChange model was developed to address these pressures by offering clear contract terms and centralised compliance tracking for participating fleets.
Survitec said the programme provides immediate access to fully certified liferafts and immersion suits at major global ports through its service network.
This availability is intended to reduce administrative workload on crew, who can concentrate on vessel performance rather than managing safety-equipment scheduling and documentation.
Circular-economy design and environmental outcomes
According to Survitec, customers have responded positively to the programme’s circular-economy design.
Instead of discarding equipment at the end of a service period, Survitec refurbishes, recertifies and redeploys assets through its service centres.
The company stated that this extends the working life of liferafts and immersion suits and reduces the amount of material sent to landfill, while maintaining full compliance with SOLAS requirements.
Survitec added that the XChange model also cuts emissions linked to unnecessary shipping movements and port congestion.
Exchanges are planned and coordinated within existing port calls, which removes the need for vessels to deviate from their operating schedules to meet servicing windows.
Second consecutive Safety in Bulk Handling recognition
Survitec confirmed that David Montgomery, Head of Sales (UK), accepted the Safety in Bulk Handling (Marine) award at the ceremony in Liverpool.
The company stated that this is the second year in succession that it has taken this category at the International Bulk Journal Awards.
In 2024, Survitec received the same award for “Why Are the Fires Not Going Out? Unveiling the True Cost of Inadequate Fire Safety Inspections,” a white paper on failures in fire safety practices and the resulting rise in shipboard fire incidents worldwide.
Operational meaning for marine safety and equipment management
Marine and shipping fire officers may use information about the XChange Programme to assess how liferaft and immersion-suit management models affect vessel readiness and compliance with SOLAS requirements.
Procurement officers and equipment specifiers working with bulk carriers and wider merchant fleets can review the reported 95% renewal rate and global coverage across Europe, Asia and the Americas when considering contract structures for safety equipment.
Risk assessors and fire engineering consultants can factor the removal of six to 48 hour servicing delays into assessments of available safety systems during port calls and alongside time.
Facility managers responsible for fleet-wide safety-equipment planning may reference the centralised compliance tracking and pre-planned exchanges described by Survitec when comparing ownership-based and service-led approaches.
For system installers and service partners, the circular-economy design based on refurbishment, recertification and redeployment through Survitec’s service network provides a practical example of how asset lifecycles and waste reduction can be integrated into marine safety-equipment programmes.