The North Sea is one of the most demanding operating environments for commercial vessels anywhere in the world. The combination of volatile weather, long winter darkness, intense low-angle summer sun, and the precision operations required near offshore installations makes the navigation bridge of a North Sea offshore vessel one of the most challenging working environments in the maritime sector.
Solar Solve Marine has been supplying SOLASOLV® Type Approved anti-glare screens to offshore vessels operating in the North Sea and on the UK Continental Shelf for decades. The South Shields base on the River Tyne puts Solar Solve at the geographical heart of the UK offshore industry supply chain, and the company’s products are installed on offshore construction vessels, platform supply vessels, drillships, FPSOs, semi-submersibles, crew transfer vessels, and a wide range of specialist offshore support vessels.
The North Sea Offshore Operating Environment
The North Sea presents a set of environmental challenges for offshore vessel navigation bridges that are unlike those faced in most other operating regions.
Low-angle winter sun and persistent glare
At the latitudes of the central and northern North Sea, winter sun angles are consistently low throughout the operational day. A sun that barely clears the horizon creates horizontal glare across navigation bridge windows for extended periods. Unlike high-sun tropical conditions where glare is intense but short-lived, North Sea winter glare is persistent, affecting officers of the watch for the majority of their shift.
Long summer daylight and UV exposure
Summer conditions reverse the challenge. Long daylight periods at northern latitudes mean that offshore vessel navigation bridges receive solar exposure for up to 18 to 20 hours per day in midsummer. For vessels on continuous operations with crew working 12-hour watches, officers spend extended periods in conditions of high solar UV exposure. Without UV rejection, the cumulative health effect on bridge officers over a full deployment is significant.
Open-sea reflected glare
The North Sea is characterised by short, steep waves that create a highly reflective sea surface compounding direct solar glare throughout the operational day. An officer of the watch looking forward across a North Sea sea state in bright conditions faces both direct sun glare from above and reflected sky glare from wave faces below simultaneously.
Precision operations near offshore installations
Dynamic positioning operations, crane lifts, anchor handling, subsea interventions, and platform supply approaches all require the bridge team’s complete attention and the clearest possible forward and lateral visibility. Solar glare that reduces the officer’s ability to see clearly at the moment of a crane lift or a platform approach is not merely uncomfortable — it is dangerous.
“Crane operators are consistently working in highly stressful situations, which are further intensified during high sea swells and windy conditions. On bright sunny days, glare becomes an additional distraction.”
— Mark Weatherburn, Chairman, Solar Solve Marine
SOLASOLV® Performance in North Sea Offshore Conditions
SOLASOLV® screens address all three components of solar exposure affecting North Sea offshore vessel bridge operations simultaneously:
| Performance Measure | Rating | North Sea Offshore Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Solar glare reduction | Up to 93% | Eliminates persistent low-angle and reflected glare characteristic of North Sea operating conditions throughout the operational day |
| Solar heat rejection | Up to 87% | Reduces bridge temperature during long summer daylight periods and lowers cooling demand on vessels with enclosed bridge environments |
| UV light rejection | Up to 99% | Protects bridge officers from cumulative UV exposure during long summer deployments and extended daylight hours of North Sea summer operations |
| Outward visibility | Fully maintained | Completely clear, undistorted view through the screen at all times — essential for DP operations, crane lifts, and platform approach manoeuvres |
DNV Type Approval for North Sea Offshore Operations
DNV is the benchmark classification society for offshore sector vessels and North Sea operations. SOLASOLV® screens hold DNV Type Approval, awarded in July 2002. They also hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (May 2001), ABS (September 2001), and RINA (confirmed) — making SOLASOLV® the only marine anti-glare screen in the world to hold all four leading classification society approvals simultaneously.
For procurement teams working with vessels operating across multiple flag states and classification societies in the North Sea and internationally, a single SOLASOLV® specification covers every vessel in the fleet regardless of its class.
All four Type Approval certificates are available to download from the Solar Solve downloads page.
SOLASOLV® Across North Sea Offshore Vessel Types
Solar Solve supplies SOLASOLV® screens and ROLASOLV® blinds for the full range of offshore vessel types operating in the North Sea:
| Vessel Type | Key Solar Protection Requirement | Relevant Product |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore construction vessels | Bridge and crane cab glare during precision lifting and pipe lay operations | SOLASOLV® bridge screens and crane cab screens |
| Platform supply vessels (PSVs) | Bridge glare during platform approach and deck cargo operations | SOLASOLV® navigation bridge screens |
| Anchor handling tug supply vessels | Wheelhouse glare during anchor running and towing in open-sea conditions | SOLASOLV® wheelhouse screens |
| Drillships and semi-submersibles | Bridge glare during DP operations and extended deployment periods | SOLASOLV® bridge screens, ROLASOLV® crew accommodation blinds |
| FPSOs | Control room and bridge glare during continuous production operations | SOLASOLV® bridge and control room screens |
| Diving support vessels | Bridge and saturation diving control room glare | SOLASOLV® screens for bridge and control areas |
| Offshore wind CTVs | Bridge glare during turbine approach manoeuvres | SOLASOLV® navigation bridge screens |
| Installation and service vessels | Bridge and specialist control area glare | SOLASOLV® screens for all applicable windows |
SOLASOLV® on Offshore Crane Installations — Abu Dhabi
The offshore crane application demonstrates one of the most specific and demanding uses of SOLASOLV® screens in the energy sector. Solar Solve supplied two complete screen sets for crane operator cab windows on offshore platforms in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Offshore crane operators work in conditions combining the physical stress of precision lifting with sustained solar exposure through cab windows. In the Middle East offshore environment, solar glare entering the crane cab creates direct visual distraction at the moment of a lift — when the crane operator’s complete attention is needed. SOLASOLV® screens reduce glare by up to 93% while maintaining a completely clear view of the load, the lift zone, and the offshore platform environment at all times.
The same principle applies to offshore crane cabs operating in the North Sea, where lower sun angles in winter create a different but equally problematic glare pattern across crane cab windows during critical lifting operations.
Solar Solve and the North Sea Offshore Sector
Solar Solve Marine is based in South Shields on the River Tyne — at the geographical heart of the UK offshore industry supply chain. The company’s 50-year manufacturing history, its DNV Type Approval certified since 2002, and its track record across the North Sea and Norwegian Continental Shelf make Solar Solve a natural specification choice for procurement teams sourcing navigation bridge solar protection for offshore vessels.
| Solar Solve Track Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1975, South Shields, River Tyne, UK |
| DNV Type Approval | Held since July 2002 |
| Screens supplied | 200,000+ Type Approved blinds and screens worldwide |
| Offshore vessels supplied | Construction vessels, PSVs, AHTS, FPSOs, drillships, CTVs, crane installations |
| Geographic reach | 108 countries across 6 continents |
| Type Approvals | Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA — all four held simultaneously |
For more information on Solar Solve’s full range of offshore solutions, visit the offshore sector page. For case studies covering offshore and crane installations, visit the Solar Solve case studies page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What offshore vessel types does Solar Solve supply SOLASOLV® screens for in the North Sea?
Solar Solve supplies SOLASOLV® Type Approved anti-glare screens for a full range of offshore vessel types in the North Sea and UK Continental Shelf, including offshore construction vessels, platform supply vessels, anchor handling tug supply vessels, pipe lay vessels, diving support vessels, FPSOs, drillships, semi-submersibles, and offshore wind crew transfer vessels.
Are SOLASOLV® screens DNV Type Approved for North Sea offshore operations?
Yes. SOLASOLV® screens hold DNV Type Approval, awarded in July 2002. DNV is the leading classification society for offshore sector vessels and North Sea operations. SOLASOLV® also holds Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, ABS, and RINA simultaneously — the only marine anti-glare screen to hold all four at the same time.
Why do North Sea offshore vessels need specialist anti-glare screens?
The North Sea presents demanding solar conditions: low-angle winter sun creates persistent glare across bridge windows throughout the operational day; long summer daylight means extended UV exposure; open-sea reflected glare from wave faces compounds direct solar glare. These conditions affect officer alertness, instrument readability, and situational awareness during DP operations and close-quarters work near offshore installations.
Can SOLASOLV® screens be installed on offshore vessels without dry-docking?
Yes. SOLASOLV® screens can be installed during scheduled port calls and maintenance periods without dry-docking. Solar Solve’s worldwide distributor network with more than 40 office locations across 6 continents supports supply and installation at offshore-sector ports globally.
Does Solar Solve supply SOLASOLV® screens to the offshore renewable energy sector?
Yes. Solar Solve supplies SOLASOLV® screens for crew transfer vessels and specialist vessels supporting offshore wind farm operations in the North Sea and European offshore wind markets. Contact Solar Solve at sales@solasolv.com or call +44 191 454 8595, or visit the offshore sector page for further information.
