As naval officers frequently encounter various dangers at sea, from armed pirates to smugglers carrying high-value drugs, they need adequate protective clothing to stay as safe as possible in the line of duty.
Naval Today brings you some tips from body armor experts, SafeGuard, on how to know which protective vests and accessories are best for the level of danger anticipated and the importance of finding the right size of body armor.
SafeGuard explains that bulletproof vests are available in various levels, based on the varying amounts of protection they offer against different types of ammunition. Another kind are ballistic vests, which are designed to absorb a bullet’s energy on impact, and disperse it throughout the multiple layers of Kevlar, flattening the tip. Only the most severe situations demand hard armors.
Ballistic armor designed exclusively for maritime use, with waterproof fibres and inflatable collars to aid flotation, is recommended since exposure to water can damage standard body armor, negating its protective capabilities.
Given that bulletproof vests are designed to protect vital organs, wearing an ill-fitting vest could prove dangerous if it offers inadequate coverage.
Depending on whether naval officers are wearing an overt or covert vest, choosing the wrong size can become more complicated presenting the inability to adjust ill-fitting covert armor underneath clothing, whereas overt armor can be swapped for a better-sized vest with greater ease.
SafeGuard also suggests wearing accessories that offer further protection against gunfire, such as ballistic helmets and ballistic goggles, as well as armor for arms and shoulders.
This information has been provided by body armor experts SafeGuard Clothing. SafeGuard provide protective clothing for the police, military and security companies worldwide.
Source: SafeGuard