Marine safety product Life Cell awarded government funding

Life Cell Marine Safety’s Life Cell and its inventor, Scott Smiles, have been awarded a $370,000 AUD grant through the Australian government’s Accelerating Commercialization Program. The grant was given with the long term goal of improving marine safety and creating international demand for the potentially lifesaving product.

Life Cell is a buoyant safety device holds safety and survival gear, and provides flotation for up to eight adults, depending on the model. It is SOLAS-approved and endorsed by the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service.

Jenny Aiken, CEO of Life Cell Marine Safety Company said, "This grant provides the means to bring worldwide attention to our product. Our government is investing in innovation, saving lives and helping our economy grow."

Kevin Hogan, Member of the Australian Parliament for the coastal area Page in New South Wales, has voiced his support of the programme, commenting that it will drive growth, and therefore create more jobs in his district.

In October 2016, Yachting pages reported on Life Cell’s planned debut at the 2016 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where Jenny Aiken, CEO of Life Cell Marina Safety explained that it was a near tragedy that inspired Life Cell; “It [Life Cell] was invented when my brother, his friend and their two 11-year old sons survived a real-life accident at sea off the coast of Sydney, Australia. They realised how poorly most safety equipment was stored on boats. There is no standard protocol and they believe this is costing lives. 

“When their boat sank suddenly, they had only seconds to locate the safety equipment that would ultimately save their lives. They were lucky, but many others are not, resulting in too many unnecessary deaths.”

For more information, visit Life Cell Marine Safety

Superyacht News
March 28, 2024
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review

In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.

By Ben Cooling
March 15, 2023
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review

A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.

By Nathan Bees
April 19, 2023
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review

iAQUA creates high-performance, technologically advanced underwater scooters. In this Tried & Tested, a team of experienced testers have rated and reviewed the AquaDart Pro and AquaDart Nano series to reveal the stand-out iAQUA sea scooter.

By Holly Sanderson

Finished reading? Now find your perfect supplier.

Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.

Search now