Zodiac drums up business at Seawork

Steve Laing, Zodiac Milpro UK Ltd, said to Maritime Journal: “Seawork is always a very good show for us, the SRA-750 RIB was very well received and went out for quite a few tests.”

Zodiac are currently in talks with a UK diving operation looking for a new support RIB. Mr Laing told MJ that most of the interest in the RIB at the show came from the diving & underwater sector.

The RIB is being seen as the next step in the evolution of the RIB.It’s a new concept aluminium hull enclosed by a new D-shaped inflatable collar that provides more usable deck space.

Because the flat side of the D is reinforced by direct contact with the surface of the aluminium hull, the collar is stronger and more secure in extreme conditions. The SRA-750 nevertheless retains the option of being fitted with a standard round tube, which can be attached quickly and easily.

The company has a range of aluminium hulled RIBs available for the military sector, but this is the first time that the aluminium hull has been applied to a commercial workboat based on the Zodiac SRR-750 fibreglass RIB on display at Seawork 2012.

Available with a choice of inboard or twin outboard engines, the SRA-750 is generating interest from commercial divers, civil authorities, rescue services and the offshore energy sector.

Also on the Zodiac stand at Seawork this year was the recently launched Rescue Track which was developed by Zodiac after listening to its clients in the fire and search and rescue sectors.

The Rescue Track is a 5m long inflatable track which can be inflated in under a minute by means of a scuba bottle and then lauched out on mudflats or ice during search and rescue operations.They can also be coupled up and used as a bridging system.

Rescue Track also generated quite a bit of interest at the show – and not just with the search and rescue authorities. The company was approached by a Thames rowing club about the potential of the track being used as a type of floating pontoon for its rowers.