Vestdavit chosen for Mediterranean mercy rescue mission

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has supplied a PLR-3600 FCR davit to the offshore vessel Siem Pilot, which is Norway’s official contribution to Operation Triton, the European mission to rescue African refugees in the Mediterranean.

Siem Pilot belongs to Siem Offshore and is normally used in offshore activities and North Sea rescue work. In normal configuration it has cabin space for 64 persons and a cargo deck of almost 1,000 square meters. Following conversion it can take on board up to 500 refugees. The Vestdavit davit system which has been installed at short notice on the aft deck will allow the vessel to deploy two fast rescue craft, which are vital to finding and rescuing refugees.

Rolf Andreas Wigand, managing director, Vestdavit, says, “We are proud to supply the davits which will make the Siem Pilot an effective part of the mission to save thousands of refugees in the Mediterranean, and we are proud we could supply and fit the davit quickly so that the vessel can deploy without delay. Our davit will allow the ship to launch and recover boats in sea states which others cannot operate in, widening the operational window and giving them the capacity to carry out rescues from other small craft even in bad weather.”

For photos of the davit being installed go to http://bit.ly/1LNMINQ   or e mail john@merlinco.com

Visit Vestdavit at Nor-Shipping Stand No:  C04-24d

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,900 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

For more information:                                   

Rolf-Andreas Wigand                                   

Managing Director

Vestdavit                                                       

+ 47 90 89 39 39                                           

rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no                                    

Naval architects count the cost of ship design errors

 

 

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) says recent claims experience demonstrates that naval architects need to be aware of the need to protect against their exposure to liability for damages resulting from errors in design work.   ITIC cites by way of example a case involving the operator of a passenger and ro-ro ferry service which appointed a naval architect to design a landing craft ferry. The design was to be based on that of an existing vessel operated by the company. Prior to beginning the design work, the parties entered into a design agreement under which the naval architect’s liability was limited to approximately $750,000.   Shortly after the vessel was launched, the operator noticed various issues relating to its performance, including vibration, lack of manoeuvrability and stopping capability. The vehicle loading ramp was also at an excessive angle in certain conditions, making the loading of vehicles difficult and, in some cases, impossible. The operators took the view that urgent rectification work was required so that improvements could be made before the approaching summer season.   The vessel was drydocked and third-party experts were engaged to provide a report detailing the extent of the problems and their potential causes. Based on the findings of the report, the operators brought a claim for $3.5m against the naval architect, alleging that the performance issues were attributable to design errors. The operators subsequently acknowledged that the naval architect’s liability was limited to $750,000.   ITIC appointed an expert naval architect to inspect the vessel and comment on the extent to which the apparent performance issues could be attributed to design errors. The expert found that the naval architect was at fault, but that the claimant had incurred significantly more costly and extensive rectification work than was necessary. ITIC entered into negotiations with the operators in order to resolve the matter, and the claim was settled for slightly less than the limit of liability under the contract.   In another case reported by ITIC, a naval architect entered into a contract with a shipyard to design the structure and access arrangements for new lifeboats and their davits to be fitted to a specific vessel. The naval architect undertook the design analysis, using data received from the manufacturer of the lifeboats, and produced design drawings.   It was understood that the yard was to seek classification society approval of these designs before starting the build work under the terms of the yard’s contract with the shipowner. However, due to time restraints and pressure from the shipowner, the yard decided to start building prior to obtaining class approval.   The lifeboat support structure was manufactured and installed by the yard according to the naval architect’s design. The yard subsequently noticed that the davits were flexing under operation, even without the lifeboats. An internal investigation within the naval architect’s office determined that an error had occurred whereby information provided by the lifeboat manufacturer had not been converted correctly by the naval architect’s computer program, with the result that the calculations were out by a factor of 1000. This error was not identified during the naval architect’s quality assurance process and, as a result, the structural platform, as designed and built, was not fit for purpose.   The yard raised a formal complaint advising the naval architect that the work on the davit support structure had to be rectified because of the error. A few months later it claimed that rectification had cost £347,254. ITIC assessed the claim and was also able to raise arguments that the contract terms excluded some components of the claim and that the yard should not have started construction before the classification society had approved the designs. A settlement was eventually agreed at £255,000.

ITIC is managed by Thomas Miller. More details about the club and the services it offers can be found on ITIC’s website at www.itic-insure.com

 

 

For more information:                             

Charlotte Kirk                                              

ITIC                                                               

Tel. +44 (0)20 7338 0150                          

Fax. +44 (0)20 7338 0151                         

charlotte.kirk@thomasmiller.com                       

 

Unmanned surface vehicles move a step closer

Unmanned surface vehicles or seagoing drones have come a step closer to reality following successful tests of a recovery system.

 

Read about it and news of other boat handling systems and NORSOK compliant davits in the latest newsletter from Norway’s Vestdavit.

 

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea.

For a copy of the newsletter e mail john@merlinco.com or go to www.vestdavit.no

Vestdavit wins French Customs Patrol Boat order

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted by French shipyard Socarenam to supply the davits for a new 50 m patrol boat which it will build for the French customs. Vestdavit will supply two davits, one PAP6000 and one PAP3250 davit which will give the patrol vessel the capability of launching and recovering RIBs up to 9.5 m long in sea state 6.

Rolf Andreas Wigand, Managing Director, Vestdavit, says, “Socarenam is an important builder of sophisticated patrol vessels and we are pleased to land our first order with them. Our experience with supplying davits to other customs authorities in Australia and Germany means we can provide them with a capability of launching and recovering interception and boarding craft in a much wider weather window than current customs patrol vessels.”

The PAP davit is a hydraulic single point davit for FRC, MOB boats and daughter craft characterized by its compact design and its anti-pendulation device. The anti-pendulation device is a triaxial-compensated docking head which ensures control of the boat in all positions. It is equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers, self-tensioning, line puller and end stop, ensuring safe and fast launch and recovery in severe sea states.

Socarenam is a shipyard based in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, with a proud tradition of building sophisticated vessels. The French customs vessel it is now contracted to build will be delivered in 2015 for service in the Mediterranean area.

For downloadable photos of Vestdavit PAP systems go to   http://bit.ly/nfnCu5

  or email john@merlinco.com

 Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,900 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

 

For more information:                                  

Rolf Andreas Wigand                               

Managing Director
Vestdavit                                                      
+ 47 99 46 48 62                                          
rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no                

Vestdavit appoints UK Director of Operations

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has appointed Andy James as Director of Operations for the UK.
Rolf Andreas Wigand, Managing Director, Vestdavit, says, “The UK is an increasingly important market for the high quality boat handling systems we provide, both for warships and for the offshore energy industries. Andy James is an experienced marine engineer with a naval background who understands the needs of procurement authorities, how yards work and what operators need. He will supplement our existing agencies by providing a technically-competent point of contact for Vesdavit’s customers in the UK and its sphere of influence and help us develop new markets.”

Andy James served 25 years in the Royal Navy as an engineer including working ashore as a workshop manager in a shipyard and as a project manager for new equipment. At the VT Group (later BAE) he helped implement and provide a fully commercial model of support to a fleet of six RN warships.
For downloadable photo of Andy James and Vestdavit systems go to http://bit.ly/nfnCu5 or email john@merlinco.com

VIST VESTDAVIT at: INMEX, Mumbai 8-10 October, Stand G18; KORMARINE, Busan 22-25 October, Stand 4G10; DEFEXPO, New Dehli, 6-9 February 2014

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,900 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

For more information:
Rolf Andreas Wigand
Managing Director
Vestdavit
+ 47 99 46 48 62
rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no

Andy James
Director of Operations UK
+44 (0) 7447 034145
andy.james@vestdavit.no

Vestdavit secures Besiktas seismic chase boat davit orders

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted to supply work boat and man overboard davits for four specially designed chase vessels which will support Norwegian seismic major PGS’ fleet of seismic ships. The ships are to be built at Turkey’s BEŞIKTAŞ GEMI İNŞA A.Ş. yard for Faroe Island shipowner P/F Thor, which has chartered the vessels to PGS.

Vestdavit Area Sales Manager Sven Arild Wågsæther says, “This is our first contract with this important shipyard group and we are very happy that they recognise the importance of having durable and reliable equipment on these specialised vessels. The workboat davit for each vessel will be our PLR-15000 davit with a SWL of 15 tonnes. These are the largest single-point lifting davits we have designed. We see seismic work boats becoming larger and larger, and operators need a simple but robust and reliable davit which will launch and recover heavy workboats safely in tough conditions, day in and day out. This davit will consistently and safely handle a loaded workboat in sea states up to  4 / 5, and is both easy to maintain and simple to operate.”

 Thor’s 64 m chase vessels will be delivered beginning 2014 and enter service to assist PGS operations worldwide. Key tasks are operational support, offshore bunkering, crew change assistance, replenishment of provisions and spare parts, and maintenance of seismic equipment while at sea. Support capabilities include Ice Class 1A, passenger capacity for transporting a full seismic crew, extra work boat, towing, and fuel and fluid transfers. 

In addition to the PLR-15000 davit each vessel will also be equipped with a Vestdavit PLR-7000 davit for man overboard boat handling.

 For downloadable graphics of the PLR-15000 davit go to: http://tinyurl.com/d4k5r4g or email john@merlinco.com

 VIST VESTDAVIT at Nor-Shipping Hall C Stand C05-32i

 Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,900 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

 For more information:                                  

Rolf Andreas Wigand                                   
Vestdavit                                                      

+ 47 99 46 48 62                                          

rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no                

Vestdavit secures Australian Customs patrol boat order from Austal

NORWAY-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted by shipbuilder Austal to supply its state-of-the-art PLAR-6500 davits to eight new Cape Class Patrol Boats (CCPBs) to be built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Austal will build the 58.1 m Cape Class Patrol Boats at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Construction of the first vessel is expected to begin soon, with all eight due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015. The patrol boats will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats. They have been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection fleet.

The sixteen PLAR-6500 davits covered by the order perform an important role in the operational capability of the vessels. Made of lightweight aluminium and capable of lifting Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of 6,500 kilos, the SOLAS-compliant, self-tensioned davits are fully equipped with the latest safety accessories, including shock absorbers, guiding rails, wire haulers, hydraulic end stops, and independent HPUs. Their advanced functionality ensures safe operation in rough weather conditions, and permits the safe deployment and recovery of boats in speed of up to 10 knots.

Vestdavit managing director Rolf Andreas Wigand says, “For Vestdavit, this contract demonstrates the global appeal of our custom-made davit systems, and underlines the quality of our products and services. The Australian authorities already have several Vestdavit units in operation in Australian waters, specifically 16 PLA-2000 davits for Customs and Border Protection; 28 PLAR-4500 davits for the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale Class, and 2 PAP-6000 davits also for the Royal Australian Navy. We are very proud to have been chosen yet again for this prestigious delivery to Australia. The contract is confirmation of the Australian government’s satisfaction with our systems.

“Vestdavit is committed to providing support services for the davit systems throughout their operational life. To help us achieve this objective, we have several partners in place in Australia, including Antelope Engineering – our Australian agent which was instrumental in helping Vestdavit to secure this latest order from Australia, as well as our service partner, Hydraulink NT, which will provide service to the davits.”

For a graphic of the davit go to http://bit.ly/nfnCu5 or e mail john@merlinco.com Images must be credited as follows: Image courtesy of Austal

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,800 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. www.vestdavit.no

For more information:
Rolf Andreas Wigand
Vestdavit
+ 47 99 46 48 62
rolf.andreas.wigand@vestdavit.no

Vestdavit to supply extra-long outreach seismic multipurpose davits

Norway-based boat handling system and specialised davit supplier Vestdavit has been contracted by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry on behalf of Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) to design and supply extra-long outreach workboat/lifeboat/FRC davits for PGS’s 5th generation Ramform new building seismic vessels.

The two davits for each of the two vessels building at Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Japan for 2013 delivery will have an extra-long outswing to be capable of launching and recovering 20 man tender boats safely in seas states 5 – 6.

Vestdavit has designed a special Vestdavit H – 10000S dual point hydraulic davit with a dual winch system for the application.

Atle Kalve, development manager, Vestdavit, says, “These davits will make deployment and retrieval safer for PGS’ crews. The tender boats will normally be used in relatively calm sea states, but are constructed to handle safely even in sea state 6, and these davits will recover them safely in those seas.”

The boats and davits also have the function as lifeboats and Fast Rescue Craft in an emergency.

A key benefit of these davits is the simplicity of use, which reduces crew training needs. They are also extremely robust and will work a long time on station without servicing.

The characteristic Ramform design seismic survey vessel has only a short flat parallel ship side for the boat to lie against. To overcome this Vestdavit will supply a painter boom travelling 12 metres, the longest ever supplied by Vestdavit. Both boom and davits are computer controlled with inbuilt auto tension and shock absorption to allow the boat to launch and recover safely in high seas.

Kalve says, “These boats will be used daily at sea for personnel and crew changes and supply between the support vessel and the seismic vessel which will continue working. The seismic work boats which would normally be used for this sort of application do not have the capacity for 20 men. The combination boat on the Vestdavit davits can work as a Fast Rescue Craft with six crew, as a tender with 20 persons on board and as a lifeboat with a 40 person capacity.

Our dual point system is designed to fulfil all the different functions needed for this multi operation davit. The davit design delivers launch and recovery that will be both safe and quick in high sea states, which means less risk for the crew and more operational uptime for both the seismic vessel and the support craft.”

Vestdavit is also to design and supply a special shock absorber system for the paravane heavy load lines. It will handle peak loads up to 200 tonnes per shock absorber, again helping to keep the vessel at work despite heavy seas.

For a graphic of the Vestdavit multipurpose system see attachments, go to http://bit.ly/roQ3Hu or e mail john@merlinco.com

Vestdavit designs, supplies and supports tailor-made solutions for launching and recovering boats in difficult conditions at sea. Its range of boat handling systems and davits are the first choice of navies, coastguards, seismic survey operators, pilot authorities and offshore operators who need to be able to operate small boats safely from larger vessels. Since 1975 Bergen-based Vestdavit has supplied over 1,800 davits and side and stern launch systems. They have proven themselves over more than 30 years use in the North Sea and other harsh environments around the world. Self-tensioning and shock absorbing systems ensure crew safety and widen the operational window for the users. Vestdavit’s key focus is on operational effectiveness, safety and the reliability of its equipment. http://www.vestdavit.no/

For more information:

Atle Kalve
Vestdavit
+ 47 45 21 97 31
atle.kalve@vestdavit.no