ENHANCING SAFETY ON PAPHOS BEACHES WITH INNOVATIVE REMOTE-CONTROLLED LIFEBUOY - Pafos Press 8/4
A demonstration and official handover event by ETAP of a pioneering, advanced-technology lifesaving equipment took place this morning at the “ta Bania” Municipal Beach in Kato Paphos.
This is a modern remote-controlled lifebuoy, which is now part of the equipment of the Paphos Municipality, with the aim of strengthening surveillance and improving rescue operations for bathers.
The Director of the Paphos Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company, Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, stressed that this specific initiative constitutes practical support for the Paphos Municipality and its lifesaving services. As he stated, the remote-controlled lifebuoy is environmentally friendly, as it operates on electricity and is rechargeable, thus contributing to the sustainable management of coastal infrastructure.
At the same time, he explained that the system has excellent technical characteristics, as it is up to five times faster than a swimming champion, which makes it particularly effective in cases of emergency. In addition, it has a range of approximately 800 meters, while its battery autonomy reaches 50 minutes of continuous operation, allowing for immediate and flexible response to rescue incidents.
Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Hadjigeorgiou said that this is the second such life jacket to be delivered, noting that another one has already been placed on another beach, while there is a third one under discussion for delivery to another Municipality. The value of the equipment is approximately 4,500 euros. As he added, this life jacket will be permanently installed at the Municipal Beach “ta Bania”, which operates throughout the year, which makes enhanced surveillance and readiness necessary.
For his part, the chairman of the Paphos Municipality Beach Committee, Euclid Ambrosiadis, expressed his warm thanks to Mr. Hadjigeorgiou and the Paphos Lifeguard Association for this important contribution, noting that such initiatives contribute substantially to the upgrading of lifeguard services. He also expressed optimism for further strengthening of the cooperation between the two bodies, which is expected to be extended to the equipping of lifeguard towers.
Regarding the beaches in the area, Mr. Ambrosiadis clarified that a total of twelve beaches are located within the municipal boundaries of the Paphos Municipality, two of which belong directly to the Municipality, while the rest are rented.
The event was also attended by Mayor Angelos Onisiforou, who warmly welcomed the initiative of ETAP, emphasizing that such actions substantially enhance the safety of citizens and visitors. As he stated, the utilization of modern technologies is a key priority for the Municipality of Paphos, as it contributes both to the protection of human life and to the qualitative upgrading of the services provided on the beaches. At the same time, he emphasized that the cooperation with organizations such as ETAP demonstrates the importance of the collective effort to enhance the tourist image of the area and ensure a high level of safety.
The event was also welcomed by the president of the “Vrysoutkia Kelpetri” Association, Anthi Charalambous, who praised the importance of such initiatives for the local community and the protection of bathers.
