Key deals

Austrias Palfinger Group is expanding its marine business through the acquisition of the Norwegian cranes and lifting equipment expert, Bergen Group Dreggen AS.

The UKs Osbit Power (OP) has reached a milestone with its MaXccess-T12 access system for Scira Offshore Energy Limited, it has just completed its Lloyds witnessed factory acceptance tests.

Brad Payne of Marval Marine says over the last few years: “Business has gone from a walking pace to a flat out run”.

Hull based offshore windfarm shipping company, Rix Sea Shuttle, has launched its first vessel which was specifically commissioned to serve the offshore windfarm sector.

Have you ever been responsible for any noteworthy failures in your business career? No, me neither, but apparently it happens.

The business and assets of British boatbuilder, South Boats Special Projects Ltd, have been sold to fellow UK vessel build expert, Alicat Workboats, for an undisclosed sum.

French boat builder, Alu Marine Shipyard, has launched its new range of pilot boats, designed for pilots on the river Seine.

Damen Shipyards recently launched its first ever hybrid tug, the ASD Tug 2810 Hybrid, bound for Iskes Towage & Salvage.

Norwegian maritime training company, Seagull AS, is extending its distance training package ready for the impending International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) which comes into force in August 2013.

Euroferries Ltd has announced plans to launch a new high speed ferry service between Ramsgate and Boulogne starting early in 2013.

Scottish ferry operator, Western Ferries, has hosted a keel laying ceremony for the first of two vessels being built by Birkenhead based shipyard and engineering company, Cammell Laird.

The International WorkBoat Show returns to the Morial Convention Centre in New Orleans on 5-7 December 2012.

Sweden’s MJP Waterjets AB has acquired the UK and US based waterjet specialist, Ultra Dynamics – the merger will create one of the world’s largest waterjet providers.

Survey ship, ‘HMS Protector’, recently surveyed the wreck of wartime tanker, ‘RFA Darkdale’, for salvage and marine operations.

Australian boatbuilder, Austal, has secured to a new contract with the UK’s Turbine Transfers, to design and build three new wind farm support catamarans.

The RNLI has revealed its new ‘Shannon’ class lifeboat design, the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be powered by water jets instead of propellers.

Workers at BAE Systems moved the biggest section of HMS Queen Elizabeth out of the company’s shipbuilding hall at Govan for the first time this week.