Member Article

New sea rescue equipment developed in Washington

An engineering firm in Washington is attempting to break overseas dominance in a specialist part of the offshore industry by developing equipment to enhance safety on rescue vessels.

Northern Hydraulic Cylinder Engineers has developed a new reactive jigger unit to aid loading and unloading of small boats carried on ships, which are used to rescue people who have fallen overboard.

The company has already fulfilled a £250,000 contract for the Vector Offshore fleet, which has ordered eight units to support BP’s North Sea operations.

The system has already been hailed as the best safety improvement in the industry for many years. Now Northern Hydraulic is working towards further contracts with other companies in the industry.

Peter Holland, engineering director at Northern Hydraulic said: “The jigger unit we’ve developed not only enables users to get the boats on and off quickly, but also allows them to do so in a far more controlled manner than has often previously been the case, thus minimising the likelihood of damage being caused to either vessel in the process.”

“The feedback we’ve had from using the jigger unit could not be more positive, and we’re in a very strong position to make it the system of choice for the offshore industry.”

The company have worked closely with accountants Bell Tindle Williamson (BTW) to secure grants worth £32,000, which has already led to further business for the engineering firm.

Malcolm Tindle, partner at BTW, adds: “Northern Hydraulic has combined its engineering expertise and innovative use of technology to provide offshore operators with a new way to address an important safety long-term problem.

“The reception that its new system has had from major name businesses has been extremely encouraging, and we’re very pleased to be part of enabling them to address the significant commercial opportunities that are now opening up for them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .