In July 2024, the Research Institute of Rubber Coatings and Products tested a special Arctic hydrothermosuit. In the video, two test subjects were adorned with multiple sensors and stuck for 6 hours in an AARI pool of ice water to test the properties of the development. The experiment was successful—the new material with an increased brittleness limit to the range from –57°C to –61°C, passed all tests. It is a chloroprene rubber-based microporous rubber plate with two-sided nylon fabric duplication. It is completely waterproof, does not burn well, and does not stick to oil and fuel oil. A special hydrothermosuit is one of the necessary conditions for survival in the waters of the Arctic Ocean, and Russia is one of the few countries that know how to produce it.

Why do you need special technology to survive at sea in Arctic waters? A person can live in water with a temperature from 0 to –2°C for 5 to 8 minutes. The cooling of the body leads to rapid impairment of brain, skeletal muscle and heart functions, unless, of course, in the first minutes of the dive, the shock of the icy water has led, for example, to cardiac arrest. At first, the body is waiting for a strong shiver, then muscle pain in response to any movement, and as the body temperature drops to 35°C, there will be drowsiness, indifference and a false sense of comfort. When the person cools down to 31°C, consciousness will fade, followed by death. The average water temperature in the Arctic Ocean ranges from –1 to –1.9°C, depending on the region.



In case of a shipwreck or other emergency in inhospitable Arctic waters, lifeboats and life jackets are clearly not enough, so Russia has introduced special standards for polar voyages. According to the 'Rules of Navigation in the Waters of the North Sea Route' approved by the Russian government in 2020, all ships sailing in Arctic waters must carry wetsuits in a number corresponding to the maximum number of people who can be on board the ship, and one more for each watchman on the bridge and in the engine room. And, of course, these are not at all the sleek jumpsuits that divers swim in the Red Sea or freedivers compete in. Arctic wetsuit (hydrothermosuit) is a unique type of personal protective equipment, which allows you to survive in Arctic waters for up to 6 hours.

It usually looks like an orange jumpsuit that covers everything but the face. Sometimes it is made to look like a sack from below, but this type of suit has not caught on in domestic waters. On the back, the manufacturers attach a first aid kit and top-stitched reflective elements, allowing to see the drowning one in the water better. Inside the hydrothermosuit is like a layer cake—the top layer repels water, and the subsequent layers provide low thermal conductivity and protection from mechanical influences.



For example, the Tosno-Tex patent states that the warming layer used is a heat-insulating material, aluminium metalised polymer film and fabric with a heat-accumulating coating. It is important to note that these materials should withstand not only the impact of cold Arctic waters: hydrothermosuits should resist burning and high temperatures, rotting, fungus for some time, and they should not be corroded by petroleum products. When sewing such a suit, it is important to take into account that a person may need to jump from the side of the ship (about five metres high), climb up the rope ladder, swim and do other physical exercises in the fresh air. The hydrothermosuit can also be partially inflated like a life jacket, providing a comfortable head position above the water and therefore a better chance of survival. On its own, it also has buoyancy.



There are not many countries in the world with competencies for industrial production of such protection products. In Russia, the main suppliers of hydrothermal suits are located in St. Petersburg, which is not surprising—this is where most shipbuilding companies have their offices. At the same time, each of the manufacturers has its own division, which is engaged in product development: hydrothermosuits are in many respects author's solutions, built, of course, according to common requirements. Production is also concentrated in Russia with a high share of import substitution. These, in particular, can boast Aquatics, SPE 'Marine Rescue Means' and other market participants.

Image attribution: Shutterstock