RS Electric Boats and Cheetah Marine to collaborate on electric workboats

Friday, 27th May 2022

British powerhouses RS Electric Boats and Cheetah Marine International are joining forces to develop a new generation of electric workboats. The companies, both based on the UK’s south coast (RS Electric Boats at Hamble Point, and Cheetah Marine at Ventnor, Isle of Wight), will be working together to accelerate the evolution of dependable electric boats for commercial, and leisure, use.

The exciting development starts with commercial applications. Initially electric workboats will be developed and delivered under a combination of the RS Electric Boats and Cheetah brands, with electric catamaran adventure boats to follow.

The first of the electric workboats will be launched in Spring 2023, with the first adventure boat to be displayed at Boot Düsseldorf.

The collaboration officially launches in June 2022. This move is typical of RS Sailing (parent of RS Electric Boats) which is looking to expand its group of marine companies as it seeks exciting opportunities to deliver against its environmental objectives.

Both companies will be exhibiting side-by-side at SeaWork (21-23 June).

RS says that future boats produced under Cheetah will have the option to be made EV Ready, even if a few customers still specify fossil-fuel power. The ability to retro-fit electric propulsion will be available within the model range.

First steps include pairing designs, taking Cheetah Marine’s catamaran designs and finding synergies with RS Electric Boats’ electric-specific boat design. Cheetah Marine’s catamarans are already known for their stability, spacious working deck space and rough sea handling while RS Electric Boats specialises in fully integrated systems and managing weight reduction in the manufacturing.

Together they aim to produce electric workboat catamarans suitable for a wide range of applications.

Both companies see immediate benefits, aside from shared business synergies with admin, marketing and manufacturing. Cheetah Marine’s international reputation for stability and space will be further expanded under the RS marine group’s mass production and logistical capabilities.

Plus, they each bring a unique blend of innovation to the partnership.

“Cheetah Marine is very well respected,” says Jon Partridge, CEO for RS’ marine group of businesses. “Sean Strevens, its founder, has been developing his designs for 30 years, creating catamarans to handle rough seas and beach safely in surf. He’s got customers ranging from expedition skippers to patrol personnel with hydrographic surveyors and more in the middle. His innovative design was originally for him to conquer surf when commercial fishing. It’s a proven concept and he’s sold over 600.”

“RS Sailing’s knowledge of lightweight materials, and RS Electric Boats’ experience of designing electric specific craft are invaluable,” says Sean Strevens, founder, Cheetah Marine. “They’re both companies who innovate and deliver. Their experiences – working to solve the challenges that their customers and the environment face – mirror ours. Which is why we’re bringing the two together to mould commercial electric catamarans.”

Cheetah Marine is currently developing zero-emissions catamarans in its Portugal factory, using experience developed from building a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) powered Cheetah in 2015.

“We already have the greatest infrastructure on the planet, every pontoon has charging on it,” says Partridge. “Couple that with adventure boats for the whole family to enjoy as there’s space on a catamaran to carry all the toys – for example, while one parent fishes, the other can paddleboard and the children can kayak – and you’ve got a stable, attractive, environmentally friendly combination.”

The Genesis GRP Kiosks by leading UK manufacturer, Glasdon, offer the ideal focal point for visitors.

Friday, 27th May 2022

Robust, sturdy, and adaptable, the Genesis GRP Kiosks are suitable for various outdoor applications, including ticket and information points, security checkpoints and sentry posts. Insulated and weather-resistant, the kiosks are a low-maintenance and affordable housing solution.

Following on from a previous delivery of Genesis Kiosks in 2017, Anglesey County Council returned to Glasdon for a further two warden housings. Pleased with the durability and weather resistance of the Genesis GRP 2.3 x 1.5m Kiosk, choosing a housing option was easy, and two Genesis Kiosks were selected to meet their needs.

Known for being one of the best slipways in Anglesey for launching watercraft, Porth Y Wrach slipway in Menai Bridge is a popular paradise for water sports. Accessible virtually 24/7, the slipway is a common destination for residents and visitors alike and, with the addition of a Genesis GRP Kiosk, provides access to wardens for information and guidance.

Located beside Porth Y Wrach slipway, the kiosk creates an accessible and durable visitor and information point. Fitted with double-glazed windows, a galvanised subframe and flame retardant panels as standard, the Genesis GRP Kiosk will withstand adverse weather while providing users with comfort regardless of the weather.

During the off-season, built-in forklift points enable the kiosks to be transported to warehouses for storage or repurposed elsewhere until required again.

Fitting custom imagery to the kiosk, Anglesey County Council adapted their warden housing to promote local scenery and important contact information. A friendly ‘Respect The Water’ message is also a prominent panel feature, reminding visitors and residents to clean up after themselves and maintain awareness of their surroundings and safety when out on the water.
The Genesis GRP 2.3 x 1.5m Kiosk is also available as a double sliding window model.

Key Features and Benefits

Glass Reinforced Plastic – a robust and sturdy material that creates a strong and long-lasting building solution.
Built-In Forklift Points – allow portability between locations.
Low Cost – a competitive price creates a cost-effective solution without compromising on quality.
Reduced Lead Times – allow for quicker delivery.
Double-Glazed Windows and Galvanised Subframe – offers weather resistance.
Fully Flame-Retardant Panels – protect the kiosk from fire damage.
Versatility – provides a building option for all requirements.
Five Standard Models Available – protects against vandalism.
Personalisation Available – allows organisations and businesses to highlight important messages, increase brand visibility and promote activities and scenery.

Typical Applications:

Security Checkpoints.
Cark Park Kiosks.
Sentry Posts.
Warden Housing.
Toll Booths.
Information Points.
Cash Ticket Kiosk

For more details about the portable Genesis GRP Kiosks visit the Glasdon website today.

DLM Upgrades Marine, Offshore Cable-Laying Hire Fleet

Friday, 27th May 2022

Dynamic Load Monitoring (UK) Ltd. (DLM), of Southampton, UK has expanded its Cable-Laying hire fleet for pre-lay grapnel run (PLGR) and route clearance operations, as the renewable energy and telecommunications sectors prepare for their busiest period of the year offshore.

The most notable recent additions include two acoustic release hooks and a detrenching grapnel with a 1.8m fluke, the prong-shaped tool that enables penetration of the seabed. Meanwhile, the entire product range will transition to TW-3.0 (third generation) technology over the next six months.

The update is opportune with improved northern hemisphere weather conditions at this time of year enabling more projects to get underway with less chance of interruptions. This is significant in a sector where delays caused by product and personnel availability, and other incidents prove extremely costly.

Adrian Farwell, marine sales manager at DLM, said it is also a safety consideration. He explained: “You cannot launch cable laying ploughs, ROVs [remotely operated underwater vehicles], etc. in certain sea states and you wouldn’t want to risk losing the equipment if anything went wrong. You also need to be careful not to damage equipment, especially the cable being laid.”

DLM is already widely known in the UK cable-laying sector but, as Farwell said, it is an industry where you must constantly evolve to stay at the forefront, as demonstrated by the recent upgrade to the hire fleet and supporting technology. The marketplace itself continues to grow too, with PLGR and route clearance operations being outsourced by larger contractors, leading to newcomers to the seas. Where a purpose-built vessel might be required in some instances, there are applications where it makes economic sense to utilise other vessels. DLM is intent on hiring to the market from top to bottom.

Cable-Laying Hire demand

Farwell said: “Budgets and Capex [capital expenditures] mean long-term and new customers favour the hire model. It is also true that storage of items once the operation has finished can be prohibitive. If PLGR is outsourced to a company that does not traditionally do this type of work, they may only have one contract to fulfil so wouldn’t necessarily want to buy a complete set of grapnels only to wait another year before using it again. Hiring means you get serviced, maintained, and certificated equipment when you need it—and can give it back when you don’t.”

Hiring equipment also allows an end user to make sure that the right tool is being applied in every instance, often dictated to by scale, depth, and seabed conditions. The 15t capacity acoustic release hook, for example, offers a new method of wirelessly separating an underwater load from its crane. By using acoustics, rather than divers or ROVs with cutting equipment, this method has the potential to both reduce risk and save time. Once the load is in position a remote acoustic signal received from the surface unit triggers the hinged hook to open, releasing the load.

Detrenching grapnels, meanwhile, are used for removing buried subsea cables; they are scissor-shaped at one end, designed to break the surface of the seabed, and fitted with stabilising bars at the other end, to assist dynamics and balance in the water column and in the seabed. DLM also offers a wide range of specialist monitoring equipment for industry specific applications, ranging from saddleback monitors for PLGR operations, to data loggers for logging subsea loads.

Farwell added: “There aren’t many companies that hire this equipment, especially not manufacturers of the products. This is beneficial in an industry that constantly challenges its suppliers; cables being buried at deeper depths is an example. Our new wheeled de-trenching grapnel is used to de-trench cables buried at depths of greater than 0.5m. Previous designs were only suitable for 1.1m. Notably, DLM is the only company that offers a 1.5m and 1.8m fluke. We’re uniquely placed to respond to—drive, even—constant industry improvement.”

DLM’s PLGR and route clearance products are also available for purchase and are shipped globally.

TPA Pontoons installation crew successfully complete DEFRA 2 training

Thursday, 26th May 2022

TPA Pontoons installation crew have been put through their paces recently, having completed the Outreach Rescue DEFRA Module 2 Water Rescue / Flood First Responder training. The course took place over two days at Gailey Wharf Training Centre, near Stafford in the West Midlands.

Daniel Vickers, Neil Bolton, Craig Black and Luke Blunt who made up the group, faced some cold and challenging conditions. Not only did they improve their physical skills but their theoretical knowledge of the challenges faced on, near or above water too.

Day 1
Theory was the focus for the first day of training, covering Annex H of the DEFRA Flood Rescue Concept of Operations. The initial classroom training focused around water and flood non-rescue support operations, including: safety consideration, aquatic PPE, buoyancy aids, dry suits and shore-based rescues. They also began to look at the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP).

Day 2
The second day of training saw the team take on the physical aspects of water rescue. Revisiting a variety of skills required to work safely & successfully on water. This included defensive and aggressive swimming, strainers drills and casualty management. They also spent time working on the use of specialist rescue equipment including:

Throw bags
Tensioned diagonals
Wading poles
Reach poles
Rescue sleds

The final aspect of the training saw the team practice wading in flood conditions, a great two days of training covering a wide range of essential skills for all those working on, near or above water. The team thoroughly enjoyed learning and developing valuable safety skills. Thanks to Richard and the team at Birmingham & Midland Marine Services.

Southbay Civil Engineering Limited construct new quay wall will be used to service the worlds largest off shore windfarm.

Thursday, 26th May 2022

Southbay Civil Engineering Limited have successfully completed the construction of a new quay wall within the Tyne Dock Enterprise Park, which forms part of the Port of Tyne and will be used for the Dogger Bank Windfarm.

This new structure will enable the mooring of Service Operation Vessels, which will be used to support the operation of Dogger Bank Windfarm, which once complete will be the largest offshore windfarm in the world.

The project, which was completed with no reportable incidents, involved constructing this new structure within a challenging environment due to unknown ground conditions, with this former industrial site used for shipbuilding and offshore module fabrication.

This design and build contract involved the construction of a 113m combi wall, consisting of 24no. 1067mm diameter and 15no. 1422mm diameter tubular piles.

Due to high levels of bed rock, pile top drilling was required when installing these piles to ensure the required depth was achieved. The quay wall is connected to the land via a series of heavy tie bars and anchor piles.

Associated groundworks included the construction of an 18m wide concrete ground slab stretching the length of the quay, with a bearing capacity of 10t/m2. The new quay also includes fendering, bollards, grab chains, safety ladders, and required services.

In delivering the project a number of social value initiatives were embraced, including holding an open day to civil engineering students from Northumbria University, which provided the opportunity to undertake a site visit to view the works as they progressed.

Outside of this, carbon reduction measures were employed in the form of utilising eco-friendly site accommodation and reprocessing existing site materials. The project was registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, for which the team received a certificate of excellence for the level of performance achieved.

Antony Ballantyne, Southbay Operations Director commented ‘We are immensely proud at having been involved with a project that will support a more sustainable future for the North East region and beyond in the form of Dogger Bank Windfarm.

The success of the project is testament to the hard work and commitment of the project team who maintained a proactive approach to all aspects of delivery’.

“This is another chapter complete in the Port’s transition to a greener future,” commented Mark Stoner, Chief Financial Officer of Port of Tyne. He added: “The quay strengthening at Tyne Dock is a fundamental building block in enabling the site for further development of the 200-acre Tyne Clean Energy Park to service the growing offshore green energy market in the North Sea. The use of low carbon delivery techniques adds to the substantial emission reduction measures we have put in place in recent years as we pursue our goal of being a carbon neutral port by 2030.”

New Pump System for Chichester Marina

Tuesday, 24th May 2022

Warwickshire based Marine Sanitation Specialists LeeSan has just completed the installation of a new Pump Out system on the fuel pontoon next to the lock.at Premier Marinas Chichester Marina.

The original LeeSan Pump Out system (which this unit replaces) was a diaphragm pump and a stainless operating panel. It was installed twenty years ago in 2002 and has been extremely reliable over its long working life.

However, to ensure that the marina service is fully up-to-date, the old unit has now been removed and replaced with a new, updated, LS60W Pump Out Station. Internally this features a Rheinstrom Bronze 2” diaphragm pump and dual inlet and outlet valves.

There is a built-in, safety control panel and a 15m suction hose with its globally recognised, (developed by LeeSan), standard probe valve. The whole system is housed in one very neat stainless-steel station.

Chichester Pump Out is normally manned by an operator from Premier Marinas.

This installation is the latest in a series of programmed “updates” by Premier Marinas following installations at Brighton Marina, Sovereign Harbour, and numerous others.

About Chichester Marina

Chichester Marina, part of Premier Marinas, is a scenic and well-equipped marina located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Chichester Harbour, West Sussex. Known for its stunning surroundings and comprehensive facilities, the marina provides 1,100 fully serviced berths, accommodating vessels up to 24 meters in length. With its unique lock entrance, Chichester Marina ensures secure, safe access to the harbour, making it a popular choice for boaters seeking both leisure and convenience.

The marina offers a wide range of amenities to enhance the boating experience, including a fully equipped boatyard with a 65-ton travel lift, onsite marine services, and a fuel berth. There are also dedicated luxury facilities, such as the Chichester Marina Reception and Lounge, high-quality showers, and a laundry area for berth holders. Premier Marinas has invested in environmentally friendly practices, including on-site recycling and waste facilities, which support the natural beauty and sustainability of Chichester Harbour.

Chichester Marina also hosts an array of amenities for visitors and the local community, including popular dining options like The Boat House Café, boutique shops, and scenic walking trails. With its top-tier services and dedication to an eco-friendly, enjoyable environment, Chichester Marina stands as a premier destination for boating enthusiasts.

Stainless UK Dives in The Deep Sea With Datem

Tuesday, 24th May 2022

Datem are one of the world leaders in CPT systems (cone penetration test). Their units are used for acquiring the properties of the soil, cable routes and gas pipelines under the sea. Sometimes this can be up to 3000 metres below sea level. The majority of the components for their products are made from stainless steel and we at Stainless UK manufacture and supply the back plate for both the Neptune 3000 and Neptune 5000 systems.

The two grades of stainless steel that we normally use in our manufacturing process are 304 and 316. In this project stainless steel grade 316 is the choice as it has a higher corrosion resistance and so is suitable in salt water applications. The main difference between the two grades is the presence of molybdenum and increased nickel content in grade 316 both improve the resistance.

Stainless 304 consists of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

Stainless 316 consists of 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum.

Castoldi revolutionary waterjet for large vessels

Tuesday, 24th May 2022

Castoldi has launched the new Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. waterjet which is set to revolutionise the market for large vessels

The Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. is the largest waterjet in the Castoldi Range to date equipped, like the other models of the range, with an integrated gearbox (certified for heavy duty ratings), with hydraulic clutch, that with its numerous gear ratios allows a fine match with any engine on the market.

“Our aim is to supply to the customer with not only the waterjet but a complete package that incorporates the propulsion with integrated gearbox and clutch, a dedicated control system to manage also the engine and eventually the interceptor integration, directly installed on the waterjet unit. We design and supply also the matching kit to the engine according to the customer’s requirements.” says Giacomo Castoldi

“From a technical point of view, especially on large vessels, our integrated gearbox represents a unique advantage that allows to create compact installations with considerable savings on space, weight, and cost.” says Giacomo Castoldi.

In fact, apart from the integrated gearbox, the Castoldi waterjet is equipped with other exclusive features such as: all bearings oil lubricated, impeller shaft protected within a housing and the advanced patented Clear-Duct unclogging system to back-flush the intake while opening the protection grid

Technical genius

The Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. is an innovative high efficiency propulsion system with ground-breaking performance.

Castoldi has built all the exclusive technical characteristics of the H.C.T. range into it, creating, after four years of intense studies with the most advanced CAD and CFD software, a complete and easy-to-install propulsion system that allows compact applications, considerable savings in dimension, weight and cost.

The steering and reversing actuators have been designed to manage the high forces involved with one hydraulic cylinder dedicated to the steering nozzle and two hydraulic cylinders controlling the movement of the reversing bucket to allow rapid and efficient crash-stops in every operating condition.

The waterjet is made from high quality material with a Duplex micro-cast stainless steel impeller and titanium liner. It has been toughened using an anti-corrosion hard anodising treatment protecting the aluminium alloy components and cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes. This makes the waterjet unique in its construction quality.

The Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. is controlled by the ACES electronic system that can be supplied with several extra features such as position keeping, smart anchor, unmanned interface, autopilot integration and hybrid power.

These waterjets can operate seamlessly in sandy, dirty and shallow waters thanks to the movable grid protecting the water intake, the impeller shaft rotating into a protective housing (not in contact with the water) and all the bearings lubricated by oil.

Trusted

Castoldi is also well known as a manufacturer of luxury tenders for the superyacht industry.

“When we entered this market, 25 years ago, most of the tenders were equipped with stern drives or outboards and there were very few companies manufacturing waterjet driven tenders.

On the contrary, now most of the tenders are equipped with waterjet drives and this propulsion system is well known and appreciated by crew and owners. We believe we have played an important role in this trend change with our production also taken as an example by our competitors.” said Giacomo Castoldi.

TPA pontoon pioneers a Mersey Gateway Principal Inspection

Tuesday, 24th May 2022

Modular pontoons from specialist temporary access solutions provider TPA provided a “first class” solution to the first-ever principal inspection of a critical section of the Viaduct.

TPA the pontoon pioneers, supplied a 49m2 dual-layer Versadock pontoon complete with operatives, outboard motor and Spider MEWP for the first Principal Inspection of the Astmoor and Bridgewater viaduct, part of which encompasses the Bridgewater Canal, by engineering and infrastructure specialists AECOM.

The viaduct had a General Inspection from ground level (points of safety) in 2019, two years after the 0.6km long bridge was opened by operator Merseylink, but this was its first Principal Inspection since commission. These inspections are tactile and carried out at close quarters every six years, using access equipment and plant.

AECOM had originally requested lane closures on the dual-carriageway viaduct to deploy an underbridge unit to carry out the inspections on the spans over the canal and undeveloped land. However, due to journey time measurement obligations, Merseylink asked for an alternative method of access.

So, Steve Wilson, senior engineer (bridges, inspections and surveys) with AECOM, investigated using a spider MEWP to inspect a few of the spans including the Bridgewater Canal span, which required getting a Spider MEWP down to tow path level.

He contacted Spider lift hire specialists Higher Access, a sister Vp plc company to TPA, and met on site with one of their representatives, together with one of the operatives from TPA Pontoons. The rest was history.

TPA carried out a stability calculation report to confirm the pontoon design and loadings and maximum MEWP reach capabilities. They then supplied the complete access package – operators, on-site crew, outboard motor, plastic pontoon and MEWP – for the four-day contract. The pontoon was required to be a dual layer design to carry the weight of the 3t MEWP and allow it full range of operations.

Direct access to the A533 bridge was restricted so the pontoon, complete with 28m2 of perimeter edge protection, was motored some 1km downstream from a launch and recovery site on the Astmoor Industrial Estate in Runcorn, passing under a pedestrian bridge and a dual carriageway slip road onto the A558 Daresbury Expressway, to the viaduct.

The outboard motor was set up on a 3m x 2m single layer section extension to the 7m x 7m moduled main pontoon, in addition to a 4.5m containment bund to prevent any potential spillages from the MEWP.

In addition to the equipment, TPA provided the Spider MEWP, which worked to heights over water of up to 12m, and the pontoon and outboard motor operators, including an on-site operative who acted as marshall/lookout for boat traffic on the canal and pedestrian traffic on the canal banks.

Steve Wilson said: “TPA were first class from start to finish and I had no complaints.”

TPA’s business development manager for pontoons, James Myatt, added: “It’s still relatively uncommon to use a Spider MEWP from a pontoon. However, working with our sister company Higher Access we were able to provide a cost effective package to allow safe working at height over water and we are delighted AECOM were so pleased with how we delivered this project.”

Manor Marine Enters Memorandum of Understanding With Chartwell Marine

Wednesday, 18th May 2022

Manor Marine UK Ltd, leading maritime provider for shipbuilding, fabrication, repairs, and conversion, and Chartwell Marine Ltd, pioneers of sustainable next-generation vessel design, have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.

The companies have maintained a longstanding relationship through various projects, and this agreement demonstrates a further commitment to work in tandem on innovative and sustainable concepts and designs. Collaboration between maritime stakeholders and service providers is key to expanding a co-ordinated and profitable network of support for the offshore renewables sector.

The potential for newbuild vessel projects also forms part of what will become a joint commercial strategy between the two maritime firms. With a marriage of Manor Marine’s long and proven experience in shipbuilding and fabrication and Chartwell Marine’s consistent track record of ground-breaking vessel design, eye-catching new developments are sure to come.

Leif Cooper, Managing Director at Manor Marine commented, “This is the first step to both companies working more closely together in what we both see as a very exciting and busy future. Manor Marine provides engineering services and new build vessels to Manor Renewable Energy, who have very ambitious plans themselves.”

Andy Page, Managing Director at Chartwell Marine added, “We’re pleased to have been able to take this step towards progressing our valued relationship with Manor Marine. The Memorandum of Understanding isn’t just an agreement to purchase our naval architecture and design support, but a firm handshake with the prospect of a bright commercial future behind it — and some exciting newbuild projects later on down the line.”

Month: May 2022

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