Solar Solve Marine recently completed an important order from BAE Systems for the supply of two shipsets of their SOLASAFE® anti glare roller screens. The screens reject glare, heat and uv light and are to be installed at the wheelhouse windows of the first two Type 45 Daring Class Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers for the UK Royal Navy.
Six ships have been contracted and they are to replace the Type 42 destroyers that have been in service since 1978.
BAE Systems Marine is the prime contractor for the project with all ships being built at their Scotstoun shipyard. Vosper Thorneycroft in Portsmouth will assemble the bow sections, masts and funnels for all six vessels.
Production of HMS Daring, the first-of-class, was begun in March 2003 and it was launched on 1 February 2006 at Scotstoun. The vessel is due to enter service in December 2009. Construction of HMS Dauntless, the second vessel was begun in August 2004 and she was launched on 23rd January 2007.
Each destroyer will be powered by two 25 Megawatt gas turbine engines of advanced design to provide significant space savings and increased fuel efficiency. They will be built by a team led by Rolls-Royce and Northrop Grumman.
With a displacement of 8,000 ton, a projected speed greater than 27 knots and a range of over 7,000 nautical miles these Type 45 destroyers will be equipped with long-range weapon systems to intercept air threats including super-agile manoeuvring missiles.
Solar Solve Marine’s SOLASAFE® anti glare roller screens act as a Navigation Safety Aid, enhancing the navigators’ ability to view electronic charts as well as see clearly outside in sunny or icy conditions. Manufactured in South Shields, UK, they are type approved by DNV-GL, Lloyd’s and ABS. The use of such screens is recommended in current legislation governing navigation bridge environmental conditions.
Carl Johnson, Solar Solve’s Operations Director commented, “We are very proud of our continued successful relationship with UK MOD and the fact that we are an Approved Supplier. These Type 45 vessels have been in the pipeline for a long time as I originally quoted for this project in 2002 but at least we have now completed the first two.”
