Seawork winner takes on workboat range
MSV Explorer on board the SP02 catamaran
An innovative new sub-surface viewing craft, the MSV Explorer, designed by Chris Garner and built under licence by GRP Laminates, won the Seawork 2011 Spirit of Innovation category award for Diving & Underwater Technology.
MSV Explorer Limited was delighted to receive the award for the revolutionary MSV Explorer, a radical new self-propelled, sub-surface viewing pod designed by Chris Garner. The unique vessel was launched at Seawork 2011, together with a purpose designed 13m launch and recovery catamaran, the SP02.
The MSV Explorer and SP02 support vessel were designed by Chris Garner, who has developed a safe and versatile way for non-divers to enjoy the underwater world. He originally devised the lifting mechanism on the catamaran to assist in the rescue or stranded whales and dolphins.
Both the MSV Explorer and the SP02 lifting catamaran were built in the UK, at Cowes on the Isle of Wight by GRP Laminates. The system offers safe, dry underwater exploration for a wide range of leisure and commercial purposes, and has already generated keen interest from dive centres, luxury resorts, marine research institutions and other commercial operators.
GRP Laminates’ Martin Antrobus said, “We are very excited about the potential of the MSV Explorer and are delighted that Chris’s innovative design has been recognised by leading experts from the diving and underwater technology industry.”
Further post-Seawork activity has seen GRP Laminates sign a landmark licensing agreement to take on marketing and manufacturing the full range of South Cats composite moulded catamarans.
For the first time, prospective customers can contact GRP Laminates directly, for an immediate response and rapid build time on a bespoke 10, 11, 12 or 14m South Boats workboat.
GRP Laminates and South Boats have worked together for many years. In 2010 GRP Laminates launched the Kit & Fit scheme to make the South Boats 10, 11 and 12m catamarans accessible and affordable to independent fishing and dive operators. From now on, GRP Laminates will be able to deliver complete build projects for an even wider range of uses.
Managing director of GRP Laminates, Mark Gulesserian said, “This gives GRP Laminates a superb opportunity for growth and development. The company has always consistently built high quality products for other people. Now we will have our own stable of branded products to take to market.
“The licensing agreement from Clive Jeffery enables us to do much more, by giving us control of the whole process from marketing and generating orders to customer service and aftercare. We can now handle complete build and fit out ourselves, without relying on South Boats for a sales pipeline or supply chain.”
Clive Jeffery, owner of South Boats, explained that South Boats’ commercial focus will remain on their successful 15m plus aluminium boats. With the yard fully booked for aluminium build projects, the composite moulded hulls (outsourced to GRP Laminates since 2009) have been somewhat peripheral to their core business. “We have done really well by focusing on the aluminium vessels, said Jeffery. “We would not have had the time or expertise to do the development work that GRP Laminates has done on the smaller GRP boats, or to market these boats to their full potential.”
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