Inventor Robert Duncan and his financial partner Robert Groff, doing business as Latitude 98, topped three other international contenders in the prestigious Seatrade Awards, Safety at Sea category, in London, England, on May 6.

The Sequim pair bested companies from Norway, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong with their Thermashield 24+ Immersion Suit, a heat-generating, cold water survival suit designed to help people survive for not just hours but days in the water.

Duncan accepted the award in person, wearing Groff’s tuxedo in symbolic recognition of their longtime partnership. Duncan was accompanied by his wife, Mary Jane, and their daughter Danika Duncan of Dublin, Ireland.

“Latitude 98 is extremely proud to receive the 2015 Safety at Sea Award from such a prestigious organization as Seatrade. It is indeed a humbling honor,” said Duncan. “Latitude 98’s goal always has been to set a new standard for survival at sea. When tragedy strikes, we believe no 19-year-old should go to sea with out the expectation of staying alive for days, not hours,” he said.

“To be selected for this award was a great and humbling honor,” Groff added, “and we hope that our suit will raise the standard of survival at sea. Seatrade is an incredibly large and prestigious organization.”

In an April 1 Gazette article well before the award was announced, Duncan said, “It’s a lot of prestige. It’s the Super Bowl of safety.”

The suit is available at www.latitude98.com.