KNRM says ‘thank you’

Marine Automation specialist Servowatch Systems’ Head of R&D Stafford Williams recently received a special thank you for his “exceptional” work on KNRM’s new, award-winning lifeboat, Nh 1816.

The NH1816 has won many accolades already
The NH1816 has won many accolades already

Roemer Boorgaard, the Chief Executive Officer of KNRM, the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, sailed across a wintery North Sea from The Netherlands to Heybridge, UK, specifically to extend his gratitude and present Stafford and his team with a “Statue of the Bronze Rescuer” for their specialist work on the project.

The bronze is a replica of the artwork designed by Charlotte van Pallandt at the request of Noordwijk City Council to mark KNRM’s 150th anniversary in 1976. Retired KNRM Coxswain C van den Berg and his daughter sat for the artist as she designed a monument representing a lifeboat rescuer saving a drowning girl.

Speaking at the Servowatch Systems facility in Heybridge, Essex, Mr Boorgaard said: “Stafford and his team’s understanding of our requirement and their ability to design and integrate systems capable of meeting those exacting requirements was truly exceptional.”

Stafford Williams said: “Over the years, I have worked on a number of interesting projects but they pale in comparison to the Nh1816. It is unequivocally a remarkable vessel and its success is due to all those that have worked on it.”

By Jake Frith