Solar Solve Marine, located within the Port of Tyne, South Shields, recently received an order from UK Dredging for the UKD Bluefin, a trailing suction hopper dredger. Originally built by Fergusson Shipbuilders, Scotland in 1997 the owners ordered 11 SOLASAFE® sunscreens for installation at the bridge windows during a scheduled maintenance visit to Dunston Ship Repairs, Hull.
Solar Solve have specialised in providing sun and glare protection to the marine and offshore industry for almost 30 years and the company is celebrating its 40th anniversary in business this year (1975 – 2015). The SOLASOLV® brand of anti-glare screen is installed at the windows of all types of ships, rigs and cranes worldwide. Regarded as essential safety equipment, the screens effectively reject up to 87% of heat and up to 93% of glare from the sun, significantly reducing eye-strain and fatigue, and improving outward visibility. SOLASAFE® screens are guaranteed for 7 years and are the only screens in the world to be Type Approved by DNV-GL, Lloyds’ and ABS.
UKD Bluefin is a purpose-designed trailing suction hopper dredger with many advanced features. Special attention has been paid to hull form and dredge layout to enable it to dredge in open-sea conditions while maintaining efficiency. The vessel is also fitted with twin suction pipes and pumps, jet pumps, de-gassing gear and underwater overflow is via an adjustable weir. It has the ability to discharge via the bottom doors or pump ashore.
Paul Hopkins, Sales & Marketing Executive commented, “We originally supplied SOLASAFE® sunscreens direct to Ferguson Shipbuilders back in March 1998 just before the vessel was delivered to its owners. We are obviously delighted that after 17 years the vessel has decided to replace the existing screens with new ones. It is a good testament that our product has stood the test of time after all of those years in service.”
