Fairline Boats is undergoing a restructuring following the acquisition by Wessex Bristol Investments
Following the purchase of Fairline Boats Limited last month by Wessex Bristol Investments, its new owners has said it has taken significant steps to move the company back towards profitability.
The company has announced it will be undergoing a workforce restructure, involving the business entering into a collective consultation period with staff. Fairline Boats said it needs to trim down operations to better reflect the marketplace environment and allow it to operate more efficiently.
Ocean Signal has been recognised for world’s smallest man overboard device
The innovative rescueME MOB1 by British company, Ocean Signal, has been nominated for a prestigious DAME Design Award.
Developed by UK communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal as the world’s most advanced Man Overboard locating device, the rescueME MOB1 has been selected by the DAME Awards Jury in the ‘lifesaving and safety equipment’ category.
The MOB1 incorporates both AIS and DSC technologies within the most compact product on the market at 30% smaller than similar products. The easy-to-use device has been designed to integrate into a life jacket, ensuring the best chance of rapid rescue for an MOB in extreme conditions.
GTT, the world leader in the design of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), announces that it has received a second Approval in Principle (AIP) for its 4,000 m3 Bunkering Ship concept, using Mark III Flex Cargo Containment system and operating with a vapour pressure of up to 2 barg. Following one delivered by Lloyd’s Register, this new AIP was received from the classification society, Bureau Veritas, after several months of a joint research and innovation program.
Norwegian Government and DNVGL join to launch a new green shipping project
The shipping industry is in a state of transition as it adjusts to increasingly strict emissions standards set forth by regulators in a new green shipping project. The European Parliament recently stated its aim to reduce emissions by more than 40 percent by 2030. The International Transportation Forum has also proposed reducing emissions by more than 50 percent by 2080, as well as taxes on those who exceed regulations.
And with the U.N. Climate Change Conference on the horizon, it is possible that emissions regulations will only get more stringent. Government officials and industry leaders are scrambling to innovate to stay ahead of new rules.
In a joint program with the Norwegian government, Oslo-based DNV GL recently launched the Green Coastal Shipping Programme which aims to create the most environmentally-friendly vessels in the world.
Ultrasonic Antifouling has launched the UltraSystem PowerPlus
Ultrasonic Antifouling Limited, market leaders and pioneers of the original hull and sea chest clearing technology, has launched the UltraSystem PowerPlus.
The PowerPlus – which is the latest development in the company’s ‘Ultra’ Series – is the result of 3 years of research, development and comprehensive testing and is twice as powerful as the Series II which has been the company’s flagship product for the past 5 years. The new product has been specifically designed with larger yachts and superyachts in mind.
The PowerPlus combines ultrasonic antifouling’s intelligent and unique software with their advanced digital control program (ADCP) to deliver a higher concentration of ultrasound. This prevents bio-fouling on hulls and sea chests, increasing performance whilst at the same time monitoring temperature, voltage and output loads. PowerPlus uses a wide range of key frequencies between 20 and 140 KHz, which is unique to the UltraSystem, and utilises high quality 50w multi-frequency mounted piezoelectric crystal transducers.
Revolutionary new multigas carrier design launched by DeltaMarin and Brevik Technology
Deltamarin Ltd and Brevik Technology AS, a VARD affiliate, have joined forces by developing a novel multigas carrier design, which is expected to change the nature of the gas carrying industry. The concept combines in unprecedented way the successful design of Deltamarin’s B.Delta and the new-generation patented cylindrical gas tanks by Brevik Technology.
By combining the readily available and proven B.Delta design and separate cylindrical gas containment tanks, a cost-efficient and easy-to-build solution is now available to the gas carrier market. The design can be utilised for LNG, LPG, LEG and ethane carriers.
The Sunseeker 155, one of the craft helping to rev up the British superyacht sector
New industry statistics released by industry trade body Superyacht UK, show that the British superyacht sector is riding the wave of economic recovery. The research, for the year 2014/15, is launched as global visitors travel to watch British companies showcase their best at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show.
The key findings include:
Industry revenue has grown by +10.2% year-on-year, to £542 million
48% of those surveyed reported an increase in profits
The sector now contributes £304 million in GVA to UK GDP
An increase in demand has also led to an increase in work load, full time jobs and more valuable order books:
Glass Deco has developed new PYC compliant glass for superyachts
In response to increasingly demanding fire safety and fuel economy rules present within the superyacht industry, Glass Deco has announced a new compliant, weight-saving glass development. The new, patented lamination method meets the new fire requirements as laid down in the Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) and IMO regulation.
In addition, the European glass manufacturer has also announced the development of various techniques to save weight with the use of ultrathin glass; an advanced technique that the business states will be welcomed within the superyacht industry to compensate for the increasing popularity and weight of intricate glass design on board.
The British Coatings Federation has launched a survey to addressed concerns that authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling paints to strictly professional applicators
The British Coatings Federation (BCF) Marine Coatings Group has addressed concerns that authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling (AF) paints to strictly professional applicators and organisations, by launching a survey to determine DIY use of AF paints in the UK.
The survey looks to raise awareness amongst the boat-owning community regarding this issue, determine the current practice related to AF paint use by the DIY market, determine the awareness of users to the hazards of AF paint, emphasizing the importance of using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, and to provide an indication as to the impact on AF paint sales, boat maintenance costs and leisure boat ownership, if such a restriction becomes law.
The new Duoprop concept has been unveiled by Volvo Penta
Ten years ago, Volvo Penta revolutionised leisure boating with its Volvo Penta IPS forward facing propulsion system. Now the company is opening up a new realm for recreational water sports with the new Volvo Penta FWD. The system’s patented design — forward facing dual counter rotating props and adjustable trim drive — pulls the boat through the water rather than pushing, with an undisturbed water flow to the propellers.
The clean and efficient FWD propulsion system delivers superior responsiveness, acceleration, fuel economy and versatility, and is ideal for water sports that take place behind the boat, including wakeboarding and wakesurfing — a sport rapidly gaining in popularity in North America. Similar to wakeboarding but without the use of a rope and handle, wakesurfing provides a surfer with a perpetual wave in the wake of a boat for a much longer ride than in traditional surfing.
Windcat Workboats launches its newest vessel. Picture: Stephen Waller
Windcat Workboats has launched its latest vessel for the growing renewable energy industry at ABP’s Port of Lowestoft.
The vessel, ‘Windcat 38,’ is the first to be launched following the signing of a long term lease agreement between ABP and Windcat Workboats for their new marine engineering facility in the port.
Windcat Workboats owns and operates over 38 offshore crew transfer vessels which are predominantly used in the European offshore wind sector.
The IIMS has launched a new series of reasonably priced handy guides
The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) has launched a series of self help handy guides under the title ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’.
The guides are available in a compact and handy A5 size. The series is launched initially with four titles, but over the next year, it is expected to expand to cover over thirty different subjects and topics.
Typically the guides are published at various price points between £20 and £30, equivalent to about US$30 to US$45. The publications are currently only being sold directly from IIMS in paperback, but will also soon be available electronically to download as e-books through the web site as well as via Kindle.
Commenting on this striking new initiative, Mike Schwarz, IIMS CEO, said, ”It occurred to me that there is a gap in the market place for a range of sensibly priced books that would be of direct benefit to IIMS members as well as many other surveyors and those associated with the marine and maritime world in general. The range of scheduled specialist topics is vast and I expect the series to grow to 30 plus booklets over the coming year.“