News Japanese company successfully tests floating tsunami shelter

Photo credit: Tanno Koichi via Mainichi​

The Mega Float 88 was built by Onoda Sangyo, a construction and real estate company based in Shizuoka's Shimizu Ward, and it is not the firm's first floating tsunami shelter. It had already made and sold about 40 smaller versions designed for eight or 14 people for seaside companies, individuals, and kindergartens nationwide. The large shelter was developed with Tokai University and the Shizuoka Institute of Science and Technology. The entire structure is made of plastic foam, with a base plate measuring about 8 meters on each side and 30 centimetres thick. The Mega Float has two toilets and external walls measuring 130 cm high and 15 cm thick. The materials are coated with special resin used for military and other purposes, which enhances impact and abrasion resistance. The expected sales price is around 24 million yen (about $167,00), making it cheaper than tsunami evacuation towers, which cost hundreds of millions of yen to construct.

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Japan firm successfully tests floating tsunami shelter carrying 131 people - The Mainichi

SHIZUOKA -- A floating tsunami shelter carrying 131 people has been successfully tested in a bay here, with its maker now looking to commercialize the

mainichi.jp

thomas said:

A floating tsunami shelter carrying 131 people was successfully tested in a bay near Shizuoka City. The Mega Float 88, built by Onoda Sangyo, a local construction and real estate company, remained stable during the test. The company aims to commercialize this larger model, following the success of its smaller floating shelters for eight or 14 people, which have been sold to various customers across Japan.

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Photo credit: Tanno Koichi via Mainichi​

Considering it's mainly made from styrofoam, a price tag of 24m JPY is still pretty hefty. Also, has it been tested yet under tsunami-like conditions?

Japan firm successfully tests floating tsunami shelter carrying 131 people - The Mainichi

SHIZUOKA -- A floating tsunami shelter carrying 131 people has been successfully tested in a bay here, with its maker now looking to commercialize the

mainichi.jp

Click to expand...