SubSalve USA Schwer Marine Fittings Hystat Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturers BP Norse Marine Southbay Marine Services

Inland & Coastal Sponsors Autism On The Water for 2024

Tuesday, 18th June 2024

The pontoon and water access specialist, Inland & Coastal Marina Systems, is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of Autism On The Water for 2024.

In conjunction with Boatfolk’s Rhu Marina, they have also secured favourable berthing for the year, ensuring smooth sailing for all the charity’s endeavours.

Autism On The Water (AOTW) is a registered charity committed to raising awareness of the autistic spectrum through sailing, taking part in some of Scotland’s top regattas. The charity is also geared to helping autistic people access the world of sailing, bolstering their confidence and social skills.

The sponsorship reflects Inland & Coastal’s dedication to supporting organisations that make a positive change in the sailing community and beyond.

“All at AOTW are delighted to welcome Inland & Coastal as our newest sponsor,” says Murray MacDonald, Director and Founding Trustee of AOTW. “Our charity is growing every day and is one of the only charities in the UK that specifically caters for autistic sailing in the UK.”

“The sponsorship from Inland & Coastal has enabled us to secure a reduced marina berth at Rhu Marina for our new Impala 28 race yacht, which we plan to campaign at all the big regattas in Scotland such as the Kip Regatta, Scottish Series, Round Mull race, West Highland Yachting Week and the Scottish Two-Handed Race around the Isle of Man.”

“We are so grateful to our new sponsors, and it’s especially great that we have been able to pair it with the team at Rhu Marina who have supported AOTW for quite some time.”

Sailing for individuals of all abilities

Suzanne Bell at Boatfolk’s Rhu Marina said: “We believe in the transformative power of sailing for individuals of all abilities. By providing AOTW with a marina berth, we’re not just offering a place to dock, we’re providing a home for their mission to flourish.”

“Our collaboration with Inland & Coastal and Autism On The Water underscores our collective dedication to breaking barriers in sailing. By offering a reduced berth rate, we’re extending a welcoming hand to all sailors, regardless of background or ability.”

The partnership with Rhu Marina further exemplifies Inland & Coastal’s dedication to supporting maritime endeavours. By funding the marina berth for AOTW’s race yacht, the pontoon systems manufacturer not only demonstrates its commitment to providing practical support but also underscores the importance of community collaboration.

“It’s a charity close to all our hearts at Inland and Coastal, and we are so pleased to be able to support Murray to ensure he can continue his fantastic work,” says Oliver Shortall, Managing Director at ICMS.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the journey in forging a path towards a more inclusive sailing community, where everyone, regardless of ability, can find their place on the water.”

To find out more about Inland and Coastal’s pontoon ranges and unique decking options visit https://inlandandcoastal.com or email sales@inlandandcoastal.com

Associated Listing:
Liferafts International DiveCo Marine Civils Sealane Maritime Engineering
SubSalve USA Schwer Marine Fittings Hystat Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturers BP Norse Marine Southbay Marine Services

HRH The Princess Royal Opens Seawork Exhibition

Wednesday, 12th June 2024

HRH The Princess Royal concluded her tour of Seawork by officially opening the exhibition on Tuesday 11 June. She gave a speech that highlighted the importance of investing in the future and careers within the maritime industry.

The Princess stated, ‘The numbers of you here today and that have been coming for the past 25 years rather indicates that this is an important exhibition and conference.’

The Princess spoke directly to the crowd of Seawork exhibitors and visitors, ‘Thank you for the work you do, and the way in which you continue to invest and innovate, and for your support for those who also rely on the sea.’

Her passion for the maritime industry was demonstrated throughout her speech, ‘This is a very interesting and active sector to be involved in’.

The Princess is a patron of Mercy Ships UK, a faith-based international charity that deploys hospital ships to some of the poorest countries in the world, delivering vital, free healthcare to people in desperate need. The Princess commented on how important their work is, especially in the current climate.

Seaplant are attending and promoting the event over the next few days. The Seaplant Magazine will be all around the show and we will be networking and boosting the profile of our advertisers and subscribers.

The latest copy of the Seaplant magazine, featuring the event, can be found here: Latest Magazine – Seaplant

Associated Exhibition:
Liferafts International DiveCo Marine Civils Sealane Maritime Engineering
SubSalve USA Schwer Marine Fittings Hystat Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturers BP Norse Marine Southbay Marine Services

FreeStar – a new force in Subsea Services

Tuesday, 4th June 2024

A new offshore ROV and subsea services company acquires their first vessel ‘Navicula Star’ to offer a combination of both Vessel and ROV services.

FreeStar Subsea Services is a new company born from the merger of Vriezoo ROV Services and Mark Offshore. The collaboration offers a unique combination of ROV services and survey support services with FreeStar’s own, recently acquired and outfitted vessel, the SSV Navicula Star. While most mid-sized subsea companies specialize in either survey vessel or ROV services, FreeStar’s owners believe that this combination will give the new offshore service provider a competitive edge.

Conception

Founders Mark van der Star and Willem de Vries, developed this concept over the course of several years before having the opportunity to actively and commercially join forces and acquire their first vessel ‘Navicula Star’ from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).

“With the purchase of this vessel, our journey began”, says Mark, who has 25 years of experience as a sailor, shipowner, and both operations and commercial director. “The SSV Navicula Star is equipped with an onboard ROV to quickly respond and save costs at the start of a project. The vessel can accommodate 11 people and is equipped with a crane, 2 davits and an A-frame with several winches, for deploying and/or recovering a variety of loads into or out from the water. The ROV control and survey desk are situated inside at deck level for quick response to the workdeck. With a draft of only 1 meter, it is also capable of beaching. In our view, this makes the Navicula Star the ultimate shallow water vessel.”

ROV and Subsea Services

FreeStar aims to  offer a comprehensive suite of subsea services, including bathymetric and geotechnical surveys, cable protection, and burial operations. “With our fleet of 5 offshore and 4 inshore ROV systems and the Navicula Star, we can provide our clients with complete ROV service offerings”, says Willem, who, like Mark, also has years of experience, 16 of which running his own underwater inspection business. ”Safety is our top priority, and our procedures are ISO certified and comply with voluntary ISM standards”.

Innovation and Collaboration

Acquiring a new vessel requires time to fully understand its systems. Therefore, FreeStar Subsea Services engaged TechBinder with their Smart Vessel Optimizer (SVO) to connect all electrical systems and optimize power management. Techbinder’s AI capabilities are instrumental in understanding a vessel’s power dynamics and make data-driven decisions. With the help of the SVO technology, the Navicula Star will be the first 44-year-old vessel to become a truly ‘Smart Ship.’

In terms of ROV and survey services, FreeStar has opted to collaborate with Periplus and their GR:Dit system to map all collected data, web-based, and make it accessible for its  customers. GR:Dit is an interactive map enabling users to store and analyse all kinds of spatial geodata. The system provides clients with direct access to the data while the survey and ROV mission are still ongoing.

FreeStar and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)

Striving for sustainable operations is at the heart of FreeStars’ operation and management. At Vriezoo all ROV operations and its workshop are fully electrified and the company itself has very limited exhaust fumes. The CO2 output is kept to a minimum and avoiding unnecessary exhaust systems in operations is a constant effort. This goal is embedded in FreeStar’s business model.

Although the Navicula Star is a diesel-powered vessel, she will run on biofuel, such as HVO. The SVO technology will constantly monitor the output of exhaust fumes and register the CO2 output of the vessel and later also monitor the entire company, for which this technology is also suited. This will enable FreeStar and its partners to identify energy consumption and reduce it where possible.

Opportunities

Willem de Vries, MD of Vriezoo ROV Services and Co-founder of FreeStar Subsea Services, says: “We are very proud to have taken delivery of the Navicula Star and to have started FreeStar with Mark Offshore. This will elevate our service level and broaden our horizons. I am excited to embark on this new journey and look forward to growing the business in the coming years.”

Mark van der Star, MD of Mark Offshore and FreeStar’s Co-founder, says: “We are shallow draft and offshore specialists. With our own vessel, added with Vriezoo’s underwater inspection service, repair and maintenance capabilities, FreeStar is looking forward to serve our existing and new clients around the globe. I am enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead and look forward to showcase the Navicula Star to our clients. We want to thank NIOZ for their cooperation and the delivery of the RV Navicula. We are very proud to give this beautiful lady a new career!”

 

Form more information please contact …
Mark van der Star
Managing partner FreeStar Subsea Services
+31 6 1851 8126
mark@mark-offshore.com
https://mark-offshore.com/

Associated Listing:
Liferafts International DiveCo Marine Civils Sealane Maritime Engineering
Seaplant Marine & Offshore Magazine

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