In November 2008, Solar Solve Marine won the largest single order in its history at the time — a $140,000 USD contract from Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, India, for SOLASOLV® anti-glare screens to be fitted to the navigation bridges of 12 platform supply vessels under construction at the yard.
The order covered 27 SOLASAFE® screens per vessel across the full 12-vessel series, totalling more than 300 screens. All 12 vessels were being built to the Rolls-Royce UT-755 L design, a well-established platform supply vessel specification widely used in offshore oil and gas supply operations. The scale of the order — a complete screen set standardised across a 12-vessel newbuild series — was, at the time, the most significant single contract Solar Solve had achieved.
The Order — Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Shipyard | Cochin Shipyard, Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Vessel type | Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) — Rolls-Royce UT-755 L design |
| Number of vessels | 12 vessels in the series |
| Screens per vessel | 27 SOLASAFE® screens at the navigation bridge windows |
| Total screens | Over 300 SOLASAFE® screens in total |
| Film specification | Grey SOLASOLV® solar film |
| Order value | $140,000 USD — Solar Solve’s largest single order at the time |
| Solar Solve contact | Carl Johnson, Operations Director, Solar Solve Marine |
Cochin Shipyard and the UT-755 L PSV Series
Cochin Shipyard is one of India’s largest and most established commercial shipbuilding facilities, located in Kochi in the state of Kerala. At the time of the Solar Solve order, the yard was building numerous platform supply vessels for various owners, all to the popular UT-755 L design developed by Rolls-Royce Marine, now Kongsberg Maritime.
The UT-755 L is a standardised PSV design that was widely specified for offshore oil and gas supply operations during the offshore development period of the 2000s. Multiple vessels built to the same design specification is precisely the kind of newbuild series for which a standardised SOLASOLV® screen set is most effective — the same window dimensions across all 12 vessels meant that Solar Solve could manufacture a consistent set for each vessel in the series, ensuring the same performance standard was delivered to every owner across the full programme.
“Although Solar Solve’s screens were specified, we had to comply with many conditions to get the order. The whole Solar Solve team worked very hard to make sure the customer got exactly what they wanted, on time and to exact specification.”
— Carl Johnson, Operations Director, Solar Solve Marine
“At $140,000 USD this is Solar Solve’s biggest single order to date and confirms our position as the world’s leading brand of anti-glare blinds for ships.”
— Carl Johnson, Operations Director, Solar Solve Marine
Why PSV Navigation Bridges Require Specialist Anti-Glare Screens
Platform supply vessels operate on continuous passage routes between shore bases and offshore platforms, making multiple round trips per day or per week depending on the offshore field and the logistics programme. Navigation bridge officers face solar glare during both outbound and inbound passages, and during the critical approach phases when the vessel is coming alongside the platform or manoeuvring on dynamic positioning near the installation.
PSV bridges are typically configured with large forward-facing windows to give the officer of the watch maximum visibility during approach manoeuvres. These large windows are also high solar exposure areas. Without appropriate solar protection, officers on long passages face sustained glare that reduces alertness, increases eye strain, and impairs their visibility at the exact moments — the platform approach — when clear forward visibility matters most.
A standard opaque blind cannot be used on a PSV navigation bridge. It would block the outward view that the officer needs to maintain at all times, especially during approach and DP operations. The correct solution is a transparent anti-glare screen: a see-through screen that filters solar radiation without eliminating the view.
SOLASOLV® Performance for PSV Navigation Bridge Windows
⚠ Note to developer: Confirm performance figures before publishing. Standard SOLASOLV® figures used below.
| Performance Measure | Rating | PSV Operational Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Solar glare reduction | Up to 93%¹ | Eliminates glare impairing navigation bridge visibility during open-sea passages and critical platform approach and DP operations |
| Solar heat rejection | Up to 87%¹ | Reduces bridge temperature and air conditioning demand during long offshore supply passages in tropical and sub-tropical operating environments |
| UV light rejection | Up to 99%¹ | Protects bridge officers from cumulative UV exposure during extended offshore supply rotations in high-sun operating environments |
| Outward visibility | Fully maintained | Officers retain a completely clear, undistorted view through the bridge windows at all times — essential during platform approach and DP operations |
¹ Confirm figures with Solar Solve before publishing. Current live page states 91% glare and 65% heat. All other pages state 93% glare and 87% heat. Clarify which is correct for this product version.
SOLASOLV® screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA simultaneously — the only marine anti-glare screen in the world to hold all four approvals at the same time. For PSVs operating in offshore energy sectors and classed by DNV, DNV Type Approval — awarded to SOLASOLV® in July 2002 — is the most relevant certification. All four Type Approval certificates are available from the Solar Solve downloads page.
Solar Solve and Newbuild Shipyard Programmes
The Cochin Shipyard order is an example of Solar Solve’s established capability in multi-vessel newbuild programmes. Standardising a SOLASOLV® screen specification across a vessel series delivers consistent compliance documentation, consistent performance, and consistent supply for every vessel owner across the programme.
More recently, Solar Solve supplied 90 SOLASOLV® screens across six passenger ferries at Damen Shipyards in Singapore, delivered on a monthly schedule matched to the build programme. The capability that won the Cochin Shipyard contract in 2008 — the ability to supply a standardised screen set to specification, on time, to a demanding shipyard programme — remains a core Solar Solve strength.
- Standardised screen specification across all vessels in a series
- Screens manufactured to the specific window dimensions of the vessel class
- Delivery scheduled to match the shipyard build programme
- Type Approval documentation included for the vessel’s classification file from the outset
- Technical support from Solar Solve’s South Shields factory throughout the programme
For more information on SOLASOLV® screens for newbuild vessel programmes and PSV applications, visit the Solar Solve marine sector page. For further case studies covering Solar Solve’s track record in shipyard and fleet supply, visit the Solar Solve case studies page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Solar Solve’s largest ever single order?
In 2008, Solar Solve Marine won its largest ever single order at the time, valued at $140,000 USD. The order was from Cochin Shipyard in India for 27 SOLASAFE® screens for each of 12 platform supply vessels being built to the Rolls-Royce UT-755 L design — a total of over 300 screens specified at the navigation bridge windows of all 12 vessels across the full series.
What are PSV platform supply vessels and why do they need anti-glare screens?
Platform supply vessels are specialist offshore support vessels that transport supplies, equipment, and personnel between shore bases and offshore platforms. PSV navigation bridges are exposed to sustained solar glare during open-sea passages and platform approach manoeuvres. SOLASOLV® anti-glare screens reduce solar glare by up to 93% and heat by up to 87% while maintaining a completely clear outward view at all times.
Does Solar Solve supply SOLASOLV® screens for newbuild vessel programmes?
Yes. Solar Solve has supplied SOLASOLV® screens for newbuild programmes across a range of shipyards and vessel types, including the 12-vessel PSV series at Cochin Shipyard in India and six passenger ferries at Damen Shipyards in Singapore. Solar Solve works with shipyards and outfitters to supply screens manufactured to the specific window dimensions of the vessel class, delivered on a schedule matched to the build programme.
Are SOLASOLV® screens Type Approved for platform supply vessels?
Yes. SOLASOLV® screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA simultaneously. PSVs operating in North Sea and offshore energy markets are frequently classed by DNV, which is the benchmark classification society for offshore sector vessels. DNV Type Approval was awarded to SOLASOLV® in July 2002.
What is the Rolls-Royce UT-755 L vessel design?
The Rolls-Royce UT-755 L is a platform supply vessel design developed by Rolls-Royce Marine, now Kongsberg Maritime. The UT-755 L series is a well-established PSV design widely used in offshore oil and gas supply operations. The 12 vessels at Cochin Shipyard were all built to this standardised design, allowing Solar Solve to manufacture a consistent screen set for every vessel in the series. For further information on SOLASOLV® screens for offshore vessels, visit the Solar Solve offshore sector page.
