Halmatic News

The Port of Waterford Company on the south coast of Ireland has taken delivery of a new pilot boat received by the crew at the Dunmore East pontoon.The new vessel built by Safehaven Marine is a 15-meter interceptor which has been christened Port Láirge, a name of well known maritime heritage in Waterford. The previous namesake was a much-loved steam-powered dredger that served on the Suir for over 70 years until the 1980s.Port of Waterford currently operates two pilot boats, one based in Dunmore East at the primary boarding position and one in Passage East.

The Mirabella V mast is loaded on a barge to leave the VT Halmatic Portchester shipyard. VT Halmatic completed production of the world’s tallest yacht mast, which will be fitted on the Mirabella V under construction by parent company VT Shipbuilding. The 90 m hollow carbon epoxy mast, which has a maximum cross section of 1.6 m and structural thickness of up to 40mm, will support some 3,400 sq. m. of sail. Having been loaded onto a barge at VT Halmatic’s Portchester shipyard, the mast was transported to Southampton Docks where the rigging will be dressed and the mast will be stepped before fitting out is completed. The mast has been manufactured in halves, with the back half comprising two sections and the front half divided into three sections.

Lloyd Werft's Werner Lüken may not be too sure as to whether ship repair yards constitute "port facilities" under the ISPS Code but others do not share his doubts. Speaking at the Shiprepair Conference and Exhibition in London last month, he said he really didn't think that repair yards should be included under the Code's requirements and that newbuilding yards certainly shouldn't be. However, he admitted to being in ongoing discussions with the German authorities on the point and, as perhaps the world's most prominent cruiseship yard, there is a lot at stake. The arguments are complex and will keep lawyers busy for months. However, as Peter Rowat of the London Shipping Consultancy pointed out, whether or not repair facilities are covered by the Code's requirements is not really the issue.

VT Halmatic has delivered an Arctic 24 rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to the island of Tristan da Cunha. Located in the South Atlantic, approximately 1,740 miles west of Cape Town, Tristan da Cunha is acknowledged as the world's most remote inhabited island. The island supports a thriving community concentrating on fishing and agriculture and the new RIB joins an existing VT Halmatic Pacific 38 RIB. The new Arctic 24 will be used as an additional fisheries patrol boat and fast rescue craft as well as search and rescue and policing duties. Based on a deep V hull form, the Arctic 24 is known as an off-shore RIB that is available in the market place and is capable of operating in the extreme sea states found around the island.

Moose Boats won two contracts from the U.S. Navy to build six more Moose 340C Catamaran Patrol Boats. The contract totals approximately $2.9 million, and the first boat is scheduled to be delivered in January 2005. The Moose 340C is a 36.5-ft. 380 hp turbo diesels and is propelled by Hamilton 292 water jets. These vessels will be assigned to stations in San Diego, Calif. If required, the boat can be deployed at speeds over 34 knots with armament including 50 caliber and M60 machine guns. Moose Boats will demonstrate the 340C Patrol Boat in the water at MACC 2004. Willard Marine's 36 ft. Enforcer RIB features a removable cabin. These all-weather craft, complete with heating and air-conditioning, can be used for ship's boats and for 24-hour patrol.

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) and VT Halmatic Ltd. (VTH), two of the world’s leading makers of boats for military and commercial use, announced a joint marketing agreement to offer a wide array of products and services throughout the world. Under the agreement, Florida-based BCGP and VTH, which is based in the United Kingdom, will offer an integrated line of products and services comprised of boats, ranging from 13 - 120 feet, and related parts and accessories for civil and military agencies as well as after-market technical support services to ensure operational readiness and on-station capability. The agreement, for which terms were not disclosed, takes effect immediately.

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) and VT Halmatic Ltd. (VTH), two makers of boats for military and commercial use announced a joint marketing agreement to offer a wide array of products and services throughout the world. Under the agreement, Florida-based BCGP and VTH, which is based in the United Kingdom, will offer an integrated line of products and services comprised of boats, ranging from 13 - 120 feet, and related parts and accessories for civil and military agencies as well as after-market technical support services to ensure operational readiness and on-station capability. The agreement, for which terms were not disclosed, takes effect immediately.

VT Halmatic announced a new Marine Products Spares Team to co-ordinate, support and process VT Halmatic spares orders. Based at Portchester Shipyard, the new dedicated team of specialists will focus on handling customers and owners requirements in a timely and cost effective manner. The team has many years experience in handling VT Marine Products equipment world-wide and has an industry leading reputation in keeping numerous naval, and government agencies working and maintaining serviceability of equipment fitted to many high speed ferry services. VT Halmatic expects its support to be faster and more competitive and now offers the full VT Halmatic…

Stolt-Nielsen S.A. appointed Otto H. Fritzner as CEO of Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group (SNTG). Fritzner most recently served as Managing Director, Ship Owning at SNTG. He succeeds James B. Hurlock, who was named Interim CEO of SNTG in July 2003. • SNTG's global operations will be organized into three regions - the Americas, administered from Greenwich, Conn.; Asia-Pacific, administered from Singapore; and Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA), administered from Rotterdam, SNTG's corporate headquarters. • SNTG's Indian Ocean Service and the Europe-to-Asia Pacific Service will be operated out of Rotterdam. I.M. Skaugen ASA announced that Skaugen PetroTrans (SPT), its 50 percent owned joint venture company, has appointed Per Voie as its President.

Halmatic has announced a contract to supply four Pacific 32 wheelhouse rigid inflatable boats, three Arctic 22 rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and a RTK Marine 29.5 ft. Logistic Support Boat to the U.K. Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). The new fleet is designed to fulfill the MCA’s wide operational requirements and will be based around the United Kingdom. The new craft will be built to Lloyds Register of Shipping Rules Report 10 and the MCA Brown Code Category 3 Rules. The RTK Marine Logistic Support Boat is a commercial derivative of the successful Combat Support Boat currently in service with the U.K. Ministry of Defense. The craft…

U.K. boatbuilder Halmatic, part of the Vosper Thornycroft Group, has recently secured a contract to build 20 Halmatic Cougar Enforcer 33 Ultra Fast Patrol Boats for the Royal Oman Police Coastguard. The new craft are to be used for coastal patrol and interception duties along Oman’s coastline. The new patrol boats are based on the Cougar 33 raceboat deep “Vee” hull form. Powered by twin Yanmar inboard marine diesels driving Hamilton waterjets the boats will achieve service speeds in excess of 45 knots. This contract is the first major overseas success for the Halmatic Cougar Alliance, launched in 2001 to design, market and manufacture the Cougar range of ultra fast patrol boats. There are three versions of the Halmatic Cougar Enforcer craft, between 33 ft.

A meeting on the Isle of Wight between Halmatic’s founder Patrick de Laszlo and famous boat designer Uffa Fox led to the manufacture in 1952 of Europe’s first fibreglass boat – a Flying Twenty moulded in a combination of Crystic 189 polyester resin with matted glass fibres which de Laszlo named Deborine after his wife Deborah. This small start developed into a large-scale business as Halmatic were commissioned to mould large numbers of craft by Camper & Nicholson’s, Moody’s and other leading builders of that era. As well as moulding for others Halmatic introduced its own range of commercial and military craft which were supplied either as “ part-assemblies “ for other yards to complete or were fitted-out by Halmatic for its own customers. This tradition continues.

Halmatic, part of the VT Group, has acquired the Cara Marine Limited commercial craft designs and moulds. These will be added to its existing comprehensive range of workboats and related craft. Cara Marine will now concentrate on its strategy to build leisure craft. Although Halmatic supplies mouldings to the leisure boat market, it does not actively market designs or supply complete craft for this sector. Halmatic Managing Director Mike Burnham commented: “It is difficult to combine the differing approaches demanded by commercial and leisure boat customers. This also has an impact on price and profitability. By concentrating on our respective strengths…

HMS Tyne, the first in a new generation of fishery protection vessels for the Royal Navy has been launched at Vosper Thornycroft’s Woolston, Southhampton, Shipyard. HMS Tyne was launched by Lady Squire, wife of Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, Chief of the Air Staff, and is expected to be handed over to the Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) in November this year. The 80 m. Offshore Patrol Vessel is one of three River Class ships that are being procured in an agreement that is believed to be unique in modern times. Thought to b e the first time the RN has operated ships under such an agreement with private industry and at the end of the fie years the Ministry of Defense will have the option to extend the charter, hand the ships back or purchase them outright.

The 32m ferry Spirit of Portsmouth arrives in Portsmouth from Poland for fitout at VT Halmatic's Portchester Shipyard. The Camarc designed vessel will enter service in June 2005.

The 32m ferry Spirit of Portsmouth arrives in Portsmouth from Poland for fitout at VT Halmatic's Portchester Shipyard. The Camarc designed vessel will enter service in June 2005.

VT Halmatic said that Professor Bob Cripps, currently Engineering Manager at the RNLI, will be joining VT Halmatic as Technical Director as of May 9, 2005. Professor Cripps worked at Lloyds before moving to the RNLI and has extensive technical knowledge and experience of small craft and composite technology. The continuing challenge for technical excellence is essential to the VT Halmatic business plan. Professor Bob Cripps will lead the technical team supported by Dr Andrew Humphries, Marine Design Manager and Dr Robin Mableson, who heads up the Composite Technology Centre. The VT Composite Technology Centre (CTC) was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of composite expertise from various divisions within the VT Group.

VT Halmatic will hand over the first of a new series of advanced rigid inflatable command boats to the French Marine Commandos next month. The first-of-class boat will undergo a rigorous evaluation before the customer gives the go-ahead for a further 19 of the 9.5 metre craft. The new craft are based on the Pacific 28, which is widely in service with the Royal Navy, but with features developed specifically for the French requirement. For example, the hull is a carbon composite. The new rigid inflatables will extend the capacity of the existing craft used by the French Marine Commandos and will provide improved performance, particularly in areas such as maritime assault, fire support, insertion and as a command and control platform.

According to The News, Portchester-based VT Halmatic has told workers that up to 130 of the 270 workforce could be made redundant. The business has been under threat for some months and has now announced it is to cut costs by making fewer types of boats and reducing the workforce. Letters have been sent out to the threatened workers which gives them options to apply for jobs elsewhere in the VT Group. Company officials said, following a decline in orders for some Ministry of Defense and commercial craft, we have undertaken a strategic review that will result in us exiting some product lines and restructuring the business. VT Group has been reviewing the Halmatic site in recent months.

Twin UltraJet 305 waterjets propel Tiger, a new aluminium 39-ft. pilot boat built for North Western Shipping & Towage of Hobart, Tasmania. The vessel will perform pilot and ambulance duties in and around the Port of Portland, VIC. Vessel control at high speed and when manoeuvring is with a two-station Ultra Joystick system. North West Shipping and Towage Pty Ltd have upgraded from their Halmatic pilot vessel to an impressive, innovative, faster vessel with the recent delivery of Tiger, an exceptional new generation 39-ft. pilot vessel.

In a statement provided with the company's Preliminary Results , VT Group's chairman Michael Jeffries gave an indication of how the new shipbuilding venture between his company and BAE Systems would be structured. He said "We announced in December 2006 that we had entered into discussions with BAE Systems to combine our respective surface shipbuilding and naval support businesses, including Fleet Support Limited (FSL). The proposed consolidation is in line with the Defence Industrial Strategy and would create a world-class provider and strategic partner for the UK Government. He also confirmed VT Group's withdrawal from small commercial boatbuilding activities. Earlier the group announced that VT Halmatic would be restructured and would concentrate on the build of small military vessels.

VT Halmatic launched a series of new fast patrol craft designs. The designs range from 16m to 29m and are designed to be versatile, multi-role platforms optimized for homeland security duties such as patrol, anti-terrorist, search and rescue, surveillance, Coastguard and Economic Exclusion Zone operations. The 29m craft is based on a high speed planing hull form and is a successor to the Hawk Class 30m composite fast patrol boat sold to Jordan in the 1990s. It can be propelled by conventional shafts or water jets with speeds in excess of 40 knots depending on final specification. The hull is manufactured from fiber reinforced plastic (composite) and is flexible enough to accommodate various outfit configurations and the boat can be fitted with a range of fire control and armament suites.

VT Halmatic has launched a series of new fast patrol craft designs that are already attracting worldwide interest. The designs range from 16m. to 29m. and are versatile, multi-role platforms optimised for homeland security duties such as patrol, anti-terrorist, search and rescue, surveillance, Coastguard and Economic Exclusion Zone operations. The 29m. craft is based on a high speed planing hull form and is a successor to the Hawk Class 30m composite fast patrol boat sold to Jordan in the 1990s. It can be propelled by conventional shafts or water jets with speeds in excess of 40 knots depending on final specification. The hull is manufactured…