Marine evacuation system

A Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) is a lifesaving device found on many modern passenger ships consisting of an inflatable slide or chute where passenger can evacuate straight into waiting life rafts.

MES's are common on high speed craft, where weight and evacuation times must be kept to a minimum, although many conventional ferries and cruise ships are now fitting MES's to complement or replace lifeboats.

The main manufacturers of MES are Zodiac, Viking, RFD Beaufort and Liferaft Systems Australia.