Chemring Marine backs ILAMA safety proposals

Chemring Marine is supporting International Life-saving Appliances Manufacturers’ Association, ILAMA, in its aim to tighten regulations for dated marine distress signals in annually-serviced liferafts.

ILAMA wants dated items in liferafts to be replaced if they are due to go out-of-date before the next annual service.

At the moment, Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) regulations require that dated items only need to be replaced if they have under six months’ life left.

Pains Wessex Product Manager Keith Bradford, who represents Chemring Marine on ILAMA, says, “In exceptional circumstances, ships can be allowed up to a five month extension if they are not near an approved service station that could mean a marine distress signal is eleven months out-of-date before being replaced..

“Even worse, some stations leave dated items in if still one month within date, so those products could then be seventeen months out-of-date before being replaced.

“This move follows previous ILAMA recommendations to replace out-of-date product in extended service liferafts, which are conducted every thirty months.”

ILAMA’s proposals will now go forward to an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Design and Equipment meeting in London towards the end of the month. The meeting will be attended by ILAMA’s Permanent Representative, supported by a team of specialists.

ILAMA, which is a Non-Governmental Organisation, also wants action to combat counterfeit and sub-standard safety products and to get Notified Bodies to more effectively police the market.

The annual servicing proposals were discussed at an ILAMA Technical Committee meeting in late January

EMS Ship Supply first to offer 24-hour turnaround on orders in Spain

Pains Wessex distributor EMS Ship Supply is providing a 24-hour turnaround for marine distress signal orders for the first time in Spain.

EMS Ship Supply (Spain), which provides marine and offshore supplies, marine equipment, spare parts and services, has recently moved its stocks of marine distress signals from the north to its Algeciras branch (pictured), closer to the majority of its customers in the south.

The change has resulted in reductions in delivery costs for many customers of up to 80 per cent.

Distributions Manager Jamal Lamari says, “We are the only ship suppliers in Spain offering a twenty-four hour turnaround. Our aim is to not only offer fast delivery, but top-quality service.”

In a few months, EMS Ship Supply (Spain) plans to move from the present rented premises to a brand new warehouse nearby, which will include a special secure area to store Pains Wessex marine distress signals.

The Algeciras office, which employs 30 people, is the logistics hub of EMS Ship Supply (Spain), as well as being one of the busiest of its branches, thanks to high demand from the south, including Gibraltar.

EMS Ship Supply (Spain) stocks five Pains Wessex Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) products – Linethrower; Manoverboard; Red Flare; Para Red Rocket and Lifesmoke. “Pains Wessex is a very recognised product in Spain and we stock it, because we stock the best products on the market.”

Staff at Pains Wessex are superb communicators and keep EMS fully informed of business practice and procedures, says Jamal.

“We have an excellent working relationship with Pains Wessex and Sales Director Justine Heeley, especially as she speaks Spanish. They always tell us the information we need to know and explain about the business and how they work.”

EMS Ship Supply’s other offices are in Barcelona; A Coruña; Bilbao; Cádiz; Canary Islands; Cartagena; Huelva; Malaga; Palma; Pasajes; Santander; Tarragona; Valencia and Vigo.

EMS Ship Supply (Spain) is owned by Norway’s Eitzen Group, which has been certified globally with the quality and environmental management standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Super Bowl celebration

Staff at the New Orleans facility of Pains Wessex’s American distributor, Alexander Ryan, have been celebrating the 2010 Super Bowl 44 win by the New Orleans Saints.

The 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts was particularly special as this was the first time in the Saints’ history that it made it to the finals of the coveted American Football championship and it was also the underdog.

Revere receives top distributor award at WorkBoat show

US distributor Revere has received Pains Wessex’s Top World Distributor award.

The special award plaque was presented by Chemring Marine Managing Director Robert Hill and American Representative James Chandler at December’s WorkBoat show, in America.

Revere Survival Products and Alexander Ryan Marine & Safety Company both exhibited Pains Wessex products at the three-day show at the Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans. They had a busy time at International WorkBoat Show, which is the largest commercial marine trade event in America.

The event attracted almost 1,000 exhibitors and around 12,000 visitors – which was 20% more than expected.

Other global distributor awards were presented at European marine equipment trade show, METS, in November.

In addition to Revere, in alphabetical order, the winning distributors were:

Alexander Ryan Marine & Safety Co Inc., of USA
Canepa E Campi SRL, of Italy
Cosalt UK
DSS, of Canada
Elcome International LLC, of Dubai
K & K Co Ltd, of Japan
PyroPol, of Germany
Ronden Marine, of South Africa
Safety Innovators, of Singapore
W H Brennan, of Singapore

Sales Director Justine Heeley says, “We thank all our distributors for their hard work, whether or not they won one of our special awards.’

More space at Miami Boat Show

American distributor Revere Supply has expanded its stand space at Miami International Boat Show to display its growing line of marine safety products.

Pains Wessex products were on display at the February 2010 show, along with its range of liferafts, lifejackets and marine electronics.

Around 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the five-day event at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Marine distress signals save fisherman’s life

A fisherman’s life has been saved by marine distress signals after an accident in Iceland, which proved fatal for a colleague.

The two men were in small fishing boat which capsized off the East coast of Iceland in December. Neither had the chance to send a radio distress call.

One of them managed to free a liferaft and fire marine distress signals and handflares, which were spotted on the coast and a lifeboat saved him two or three hours later. Sadly, the other fisherman did not survive.

Keith Bradford, Pains Wessex Product Manager says, “The fisherman’s life was unquestionably saved, just because he was able to fire the rockets and flares.

”Our distress signals are designed to withstand exceptional weather conditions and to operate even after immersion in water. That’s why Pains Wessex marine distress signals are trusted by the world’s commercial and leisure marine markets, for their reliability and have been saving lives for more than half a century.

“The death is particularly sad as it is Iceland’s only fatal marine accident in the past two years.”

Geoff Holt achieves Atlantic ‘impossible dream’

Victorious Geoff Holt has become the first quadriplegic sailor to cross the Atlantic.

During the grueling 2,700-mile Impossible Dream Challenge from the Canary Islands to Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, Geoff relied upon Pains Wessex marine distress signals – but was glad that he didn’t have to use them.

Geoff – previously the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain – says, “I chose Pains Wessex products because of their reputation, their name is synonymous with marine distress flares so when choosing a product that will potentially save your life, you choose the best you can buy.

“No true yachtsman would consider putting to sea, no matter how brief a journey, without adequate emergency / safety equipment of which, marine distress flares are an essential component.”

It was in Tortola that Geoff had a swimming accident at the age of 18 that left him paralysed from the shoulders down and in a wheelchair.

Geoff’s 60ft (18m) catamaran, Impossible Dream, was custom-designed and features specially adapted navigation and communication systems.

In preparation for the voyage, Geoff checked his marine distress signals and discovered they were 18 months out of date, so he stocked up with Pains Wessex’s Red Handflares, Red Para Rockets, Lifesmoke orange buoyant smokes and White Handflares.

Geoff, 43, needed help with everyday tasks, such as washing, dressing and getting in and out of bed, so was joined on the voyage by a carer and cameraman, who took no part in the sailing.

Geoff was thrilled with his accomplishment. “If feels wonderful to have achieved my Atlantic Challenge - a dream come true - but I am delighted it’s over and to be back with my family.

“The biggest issue I had to overcome was coping with my disability in big seas with the boat constantly moving – which was very difficult for my carer, Susana, who was looking after me, and uncomfortable for me.”

Geoff says he might now consider a round-the-world challenge. “I have no immediate plans, but I’ve proved it would be possible for someone with my disability to sail around the world, a journey that would take four months, but it would need a bigger boat and a properly funded programme. If that were put in place, then I think I’m the man to do it.”

Our picture is taken by Todd Van Sickle.

For more details of Geoff’s Atlantic Challenge, see www.geoffholt.com

Chemring Group’s strong performance

Chemring Marine’s parent company, Chemring Group PLC, has had a positive performance despite last year’s global recession.

Chemring Marine Managing Director Robert Hill says, “We said, last year, that there would be difficulties ahead, and we were proved right. But we want to thank our Pains Wessex distributors for the part they played in helping the group come through the recession and move forward.

“The year ahead is set to bring fresh challenges and we are sure that the commitment, dedication and hard work our distributors have shown will continue through 2010 and beyond.”

Chemring Marine’s export award

Chemring Marine has won a prestigious export award.

The company received the award at the Portsmouth News Business Excellence Awards last month.

The glass trophy was presented to Chemring Marine Logistics Manager, Clare Palmer, Management Accountant Anne Read and Financial Controller Claire Newland.

The award is now displayed in Chemring Marine’s foyer in its UK head office. Our picture is courtesy of The News, Portsmouth.

Credit: Picture courtesy of The News, Portsmouth

‘Snow’ stopping Pains Wessex staff

Britain’s worst snow for 20 years failed to prevent the Pains Wessex team from keeping the head office open.

Last month, the snow was so bad near Pains Wessex’s UK headquarters in Hampshire that cars could not access the hilly slipway to the motorway and drivers were forced to abandon them.

But intrepid Pains Wessex employees either walked into the office – which took some a couple of hours – or worked from home.

Sales Director Justine Heeley says, “We were determined to beat the terrible weather conditions and keep the office operational.

“Large amounts of snow may be common for many of our distributors, but it is unusual in the south of the UK, where our office is.”

Chemring Marine joins the Sailors' Society Ambassador Programme

Reaching out to crew members of all ranks, without distinction for faith, denomination, ethnic background or nationality, the Sailors' Society provides a personal lifeline for seafarers on board and ashore.

The aims of the Ambassador Programme are:

• To promote the Sailors' Society amongst senior people in the international maritime sector who work with or benefit from the work of seafarers
• To encourage individual and corporate support of the society