Finalist 2024

Man Overboard Marina Alarm Systems

Paul Williams - Man Overboard Marina Alarm Systems Pty Ltd / Drini Malla - MOMAS Technologies / Eddie Yim - MOMAS Technologies

A Proven life Saving Drowning Prevention System for Marinas and Floating Platforms.

Recognising a completely under-served market opportunity, Victorian Based Man Overboard Marina Alarm Systems designed developed and fabricated the worlds first marina drowning prevention system. Our technology le invention has already saved a life at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and at Aucklands’ Westhaven Marina.

Design Brief:

After a near drowning incident at my marina in Docklands Victoria, I realised there was no systemic solution to prevent future drownings at marinas beyond a potential ladder or life-ring that may / may not be available. However, life-rings require someone to throw it to the person in the water and a ladder assumes someone is capable to swim over to it - if it even exists.

Seeing a clear user need, i was inspired to start my own business and from 2019 - 2021 I designed, prototyped, tested, refined and tested again, with marina managers across Australia and New Zealand to improve the product offering.


This project was developed by:

Design Process

2018 - 2019
- Identified the need and began the research into product options and usability as well as starting my own business. Partnered with Victorian based Dek technologies. Gained support from industry bodies and peak association’s such as the Marina Industry Association, Australian International Marine Export Group and Boating Industry Association of Victoria.

2020 - 2021
-Installed and began refining our system. In 2021 we were credited with saving our first life at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron after a 74 year old drove his mobility scooter into the water.
2022
- Our first international installation at Auckland’s Westhaven Marinas charter base Z Pier.

2022 - 2024
-Continued to learn and improve on our technology through our live installations.
-Partnered up with Ronstan (international marine manufacturer based in Melbourne) to future proof the ongoing development of our life saving product.

Design Excellence

2021
- Saved Our Fist Life at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron

2022
- Highly Commended, New Zealand Marina Operators Association, Outstanding Initiative Award - Various Marine Industry Magazine Articles - Marina Industries Association, Innovation Showcase Winner at Marinas 22 Conference

2023
- Marina Industries Association, Marina Of The year Awards - Highly Commended, Industry Innovation Award

2023 - Saved our first life in Auckland, New Zealand
- Saved a dog at Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron

Design Innovation

With an aging demographic of boat owners and more people living on boats due to the current costs of living, Marinas are busier than ever. There is a common misconception that marinas are considered to be safe harbours. with deep water, tidal flow and cold water temperatures in winter, marinas can be anything but safe. An accidental fall can be the start of a nightmare for someone who was not expecting to go for a swim. Fully clothed, a distance of nearly half a meter above your head before you can reach safety, and muscle growth below the water line that cuts your legs when you try to climb out. We designed our system to be activated with a minimum of 2kgs of force, enabling a child to set off the alarm, this was proven a success in 2023 when a 7 year old kelpie named Jet had fallen into the water at our development site. the dog swam along the marinas edge and managed to activate the alarm that alerted his owner and was then able to be pulled to safety.

In 2021 a person died at a marina here in Melbourne, the Victorian State Coroner mentioned our system in the findings as a possible solution to prevent deaths like these occurring in the future. In the last 15 years there has been 50 fatalities in marinas Australia wide, New Zealand has seen close to 30 deaths in the same timeframe.

Design Impact

Not only has our system saved lives already, it has the potential to save more. With the Royal Life Saving Society putting an economic impact and burden cost on a drowning victim at over 3 Million Dollars the financial impact and need for new drowning prevention technology is clear. Socially every death is a tragedy and the impact on families is forever. The fact that there are many thousands of marinas world wide and this system was designed right here in Melbourne shines a light on the capabilities and people in this great city.

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