Vajk Peter

A flood rescue boat for New Zealand

Cold, scared, stranded on a roof; you see Ember 340 approaching - a spark of hope.

Floods and extreme weather events are increasing in number and severity, and even moderate scale ones can overwhelm the system. We are nationally underprepared for flood response. Rescuers finally have an affordable boat, no more borrowing crafts or wading through deadly waters.

A 3.4m recycled HDPE hull offers robustness unachievable with inflatables. Smooth edges and a variety of holds enable the two crew to easily help and support six victims.

My project was a year long process involving human centred design, sustainability design, and the naval architecture design spiral.  Significant research lead to the sketches, prototypes, and models that shaped Ember.