Authorised Survitec Distributor for Malta
Mercer Yachting is the authorised Survitec distributor for Malta. The Crewsaver-branded Survitec immersion suit range covers every yacht use case the Mediterranean fleet sees: SOLAS MED-approved abandonment suits for commercial yachts and crew, work suits for heavy-weather deck operations, and the 1000S Passenger Immersion Suit for owners who run helicopter transfers between yacht and shore in cold-water passages.
We hold a select Mediterranean-season inventory in Malta. Non-stock variants — including the wider 1000S size matrix, the Child Immersion Suit, and the high-buoyancy Crew Endurance 140N — ship from Survitec UK on lead times we coordinate against your yacht's movement plan. Servicing and pressure-testing are routed through Survitec's approved partner stations; we do not service in-house.
When Immersion Suits Are Required
Immersion-suit requirements vary by flag, class, vessel type and operating area. The Mediterranean summer envelope is forgiving; winter passages, ocean transits and helicopter operations are not. The four scenarios below cover the cases we see most often through Mercer's Malta desk.
SOLAS commercial yachts on ocean routes
Since July 2006, cargo ships and bulk carriers trading outside the 20°N–20°S parallels have carried one fully approved immersion suit per crew member. Charter yachts operating under commercial SOLAS coding inherit the same logic on Atlantic crossings, North Sea passages and winter routes outside the warm-water belt.
Winter Mediterranean passages
Sea-surface temperature in the western Med drops to 12–14 °C between January and March. Flag and class often specify abandonment suits for delivery voyages, yard moves and out-of-season repositioning even where SOLAS does not strictly mandate them.
Helideck and helicopter transfer ops
Yachts running owner or guest helicopter transfers to or from the helideck in cold-water sectors equip the 1000S Passenger Immersion Suit — purpose-built for helicopter passengers travelling to and from helidecks in hostile sea areas. Aircrew suits are a separate Survitec line.
Charter operations carrying minors
Where a yacht's coding or charter scope includes guests under adult sizing, the Survitec Child Immersion Suit (5 mm fire-retardant neoprene, 50 mm lifting strop, hood, gloves and boots) is the SOLAS MED option. Quantity and stowage location are dictated by the yacht's safety plan.
Survitec Immersion Suit Range — Verified Specs
All specifications below are taken directly from Survitec product documentation. Where Survitec does not publish a value (weight, full size matrix, packed dimensions), we mark it on application and confirm at quote stage with Survitec UK.
| Suit | Category | Approval | Material / Insulation | Buoyancy | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial | Abandonment | USCG / TC / SOLAS; MED/SOLAS variants | Pressure-tested on completion | Pillowed and non-pillowed variants | In production since 1969; multiple sizes; colour-coded storage bag |
| Crew Endurance | Abandonment | SOLAS MED | 5 mm fire-retardant neoprene; core-temp drop < 2 °C after 6 hr in 0–2 °C water | External (worn with lifejacket) | 50 mm lifting strop with stainless D-ring; buddy line; whistle; ankle adjusters |
| Crew Endurance 140N | Abandonment | SOLAS MED | 5 mm fire-retardant neoprene; core-temp drop < 2 °C after 6 hr in 0–2 °C water | Integrated, > 140N | Hi-vis pillow; worn without lifejacket; withstands 4.5 m jump entry |
| Crew Endurance Plus | Abandonment | SOLAS MED | 5 mm fire-retardant neoprene; core-temp drop < 2 °C after 6 hr in 0–2 °C water | External (non-pillowed) | Two-layer glove system: integral five-finger latex glove + stowable over-glove; reinforced foot sole; 40 mm lifting strop |
| Child Immersion Suit | Abandonment | SOLAS MED | 5 mm fire-retardant neoprene; core-temp drop < 2 °C after 6 hr in 0–2 °C water | External (worn with lifejacket) | 3-finger neoprene gloves, hood and boots; 50 mm lifting strop; 4.5 m jump rated |
| 1000S Passenger Immersion Suit | Helicopter passenger transfer | 4-hour certified; ETSO standard; IMO SOLAS reflective panels | Waterproof, breathable, inherently flame-retardant outer; phase-change thermal lining | On application (worn with compatible lifejacket where unintegrated) | 30+ sizes; integrated waterproof socks; neoprene hood & glove kit; soft neck and wrist seals; air-release valves |
Sizes, weights and packed dimensions for each suit are confirmed at quote stage against the published Survitec datasheet. Approvals are subject to Survitec's current certification status — we re-verify against survitec.com on every quote.
By Use Case
For commercial yachts and ocean-passage crew
SOLAS Chapter III requires one approved abandonment suit per crew member on commercial vessels trading outside the 20°N–20°S warm-water belt. The Survitec abandonment range covers four entry points: Imperial (in production since 1969; USCG/TC/SOLAS; pillowed and non-pillowed), Crew Endurance (the SOLAS MED workhorse, worn with a lifejacket), Crew Endurance 140N (integrated > 140N pillow, no lifejacket required, face-up flotation), and Crew Endurance Plus (two-layer glove system for dexterity in radio handling, line work and life-raft entry).
Shared specifications
- 5 mm fire-retardant neoprene; oil, sunlight and seawater resistant
- Glued and blind-stitched seams; critical areas taped
- Donned in under 2 minutes (SOLAS requirement)
- Survives a 4.5 m jump entry into water
- Thermal performance: core-temp drop < 2 °C after 6 hours in 0–2 °C water
- MED/SOLAS approved reflective tape; waterproof zip
Constant-wear protection for deck crew
Survitec's work-suit range is positioned for constant-wear use on exposed deck stations — bridge-wing watches in heavy weather, anchor operations, tender driving in winter. These are not SOLAS-mandated on the same basis as the abandonment range; they are a yacht-specific safety choice. Variant naming is confirmed against survitec.com at quote stage — we will not publish a model number that is not currently listed by the manufacturer.
For helicopter passengers in hostile sea areas
The Survitec 1000S is the helicopter-passenger choice for yachts running owner or guest helicopter transfers to or from the helideck. It is 4-hour certified, ETSO-standard, and supplied with phase-change thermal lining for the 4-hour cold-water immersion case — the regulatory anchor for helicopter passenger PPE on hostile-sea routes.
1000S core specifications
- Waterproof, breathable, inherently flame-retardant outer shell
- Phase-change-material thermal lining (ETSO standard)
- Integrated waterproof socks; neoprene hood and glove kit
- Soft neoprene neck and wrist seals; lightweight waterproof closure
- Strategically placed air-release valves for rapid escape and ease of movement
- 30+ size matrix — the widest range published in the helicopter-transfer market
- IMO SOLAS reflective panels; storage pockets
- Worn in conjunction with a SOLAS-approved lifejacket where buoyancy is not integrated
Aircrew (pilots and front seat) are equipped from a separate Survitec aviation range — not catalogued on this page. Confirm passenger vs aircrew scope before quoting.
Sizing & Storage
A SOLAS abandonment-suit programme has two sides — sizing the inventory, and stowing it for sub-2-minute donning.
Per-crew sizing & spare margin
SOLAS requires one approved abandonment suit per crew member. Practice on commercial yachts is to add a 10–15% spare margin for unscheduled crew changes and seasonal staff. Survitec offers Universal sizes that fit most adults, plus Medium and Extra Large on Crew Endurance Plus, and a dedicated Child Immersion Suit. The 1000S comes in 30-plus sizes — we collect a guest size sheet ahead of any helicopter movement.
Stowage at muster & berth
Suits are stowed at or near each crew member's berth, in muster-station lockers, and at the bridge. Storage must allow donning in under 2 minutes — deck boxes that need a separate key or caches behind machinery are non-compliant. Each Imperial suit ships in a colour-coded bag matched to its size to speed donning under stress.
Climate & UV exposure
Mediterranean stowage is benign for fire-retardant neoprene if suits are kept out of direct sun and heat. Indoor or shaded muster-locker stowage extends serviceable life and keeps the 3-year service interval honest.
Inventory tracking & SMS integration
Each suit set ships with a yacht-specific stowage list and a monthly inspection checklist that integrates with the yacht's Safety Management System — size, owner, last-service date, and next-service due, so the chief officer can run a 5-minute monthly walk-through.
Servicing & Inspection
Survitec specifies a layered inspection regime that yachts inherit through their flag-state safety regime:
- Monthly visual inspection — required by SOLAS Chapter III/20.7.2; carried out by the yacht's crew using a Survitec-aligned checklist.
- 3-year service interval — pressure test, seal and zip integrity, reflective-tape condition, hardware corrosion check; carried out from the suit's purchase date.
- Annual servicing after 10 years — once a suit reaches 10 years from purchase, the service interval drops from 3-yearly to annual.
Mercer Yachting does not service immersion suits in-house. Inspection, pressure test and certification are routed through Survitec's approved partner stations — we handle paperwork and chain-of-custody. For Malta-based yachts we collect from the marina and return service-stamped suits before the next embarkation. Out-of-cycle issues (a failed monthly inspection, a damaged zip, an unscheduled jump entry) are pulled from service and replaced or repaired through the same channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my yacht need to carry immersion suits?
SOLAS Chapter III requires one fully approved abandonment immersion suit per crew member on commercial vessels trading outside the parallels 20°N or 20°S. Private yachts and Mediterranean summer-only operations are usually not SOLAS-mandated, but flag and class may still require suits for winter passages, ocean crossings, or helicopter ops. Always confirm with your flag state and class society.
How are Survitec immersion suits sized?
Survitec offers Universal sizes for most adults, plus Medium and Extra Large on Crew Endurance Plus, and a dedicated Child Immersion Suit for charter operations carrying minors. The Imperial range ships in multiple sizes, each in a colour-coded storage bag. The 1000S Passenger Immersion Suit comes in 30-plus sizes — the widest range in the helicopter-transfer market. We size on a crew list and supply a spare margin.
Where on the yacht should immersion suits be stored?
At or near each crew member's berth, in muster-station lockers, and at the bridge — accessible without re-entering accommodation in an evacuation. Donning must complete in under 2 minutes per SOLAS, so deck boxes that need a separate key or caches behind machinery are non-compliant. Bags are colour-coded by size to speed donning under stress.
How often must immersion suits be inspected and serviced?
SOLAS Chapter III/20.7.2 requires monthly visual inspections by the crew. Survitec specifies servicing every three years from the purchase date, then annually once the suit reaches ten years old. Mercer Yachting routes servicing through approved Survitec partner stations — we do not service in-house.
How long does a Survitec immersion suit last?
There is no hard service-life ceiling published by Survitec, but the transition from 3-yearly to annual servicing at the 10-year mark is the practical signal to plan retirement. Suits failing pressure-test, showing seam delamination, or with hardware corrosion are taken out of service immediately regardless of age.
Do passengers and helicopter pilots need different suits?
Yes. Passengers use the 1000S Passenger Immersion Suit — 4-hour certified, ETSO standard, phase-change thermal lining. Aircrew and pilots use a separate Survitec aviation range (1000S Front Aircrew suit and related products) which sits outside this page. Mercer Yachting specifies either route once the use case is confirmed.
Sources & Verification
- All product specifications taken from survitecgroup.com at the time of publication. Re-verified at every quote.
- SOLAS Chapter III references and inspection cycles per IMO SOLAS Consolidated Edition.
- Sizes, weights and packed dimensions confirmed at quote stage against current Survitec datasheets.