Afloat Support

We were delighted with the positive feedback from members following the presentation by Commodore David Preston, Director of Afloat Support in October. Commodore Preston, originally from Teesside, gave an excellent update and very kindly stayed around to talk on a one-to-one basis with as many people as wanted to speak with him.

Part of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the Afloat Support Directorate was formed in April 2008 from the merger of the Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) IPT and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Support (RFAS) IPT. The Directorate will deliver the planned new fleet tankers and support vessels that will provide the Royal Navy at sea with fuel, stores and ammunition.

The Afloat Support Directorate also provides engineering support to the RFA vessels currently in service and is responsible for upkeep, update, safety management and spares support for vessels of the RFA flotilla, as well as being the design authority for these ships.

We will be keeping in touch with Commodore Preston, pictured, and his team with a view to building a productive relationship.

Afloat Support is the first of 3 Defence Equipment & Support events to come.

Forthcoming guest speakers include Mr Tony Graham, Director, Capital Ships and Mr Adrian Cudmore, Chief Engineer of the Naval Design Partnership.

Capital Ships responsibilities include CVF, through-life support for the In Service Carriers, Landing Platform Dock class, Landing Platform Helicopter class and the Type 42 class destroyers, as well as future procurement programmes. The Naval Design Partnership is the 'rainbow team' of design companies which will be tasked with the design of complex naval ships such as the Future Surface Combatant.

Watch this space for dates & agendas for these 2 events!

Trade Mission Shows How Business Could Bloom In Holland

Awareness of the Marine Design Centre beyond the North East and the UK has moved up a peg following a successful trade mission to Holland. Director, David Hewitt and Business Development Manager, Simon Ellis, were part of a strong delegation from the region that met with a range of top executives and decision makers from the oil and gas and shipbuilding sectors.

David Hewitt, said: “We met with directors, designers and purchasing people and it was clear that they were very interested in the concept behind the Marine Design Centre. Two things were very clear. Firstly, that they have a strong knowledge of the North East’s rich maritime history and were aware of the reputation of many of our members.

“Many of them face problems in finding both the quality and quantity of design engineers for projects. We are clearly at the very early courtship stage with these new contacts, but we firmly believe that given time we will be in a position to put forward teams of design engineers from member companies for new opportunities.”

As part of the mission, which was organised jointly by UKTI and NOF Energy, David and Simon met Holland Shipbuilders’ Association which represents over 90% of Dutch shipyards and they report that there is strong potential to build links with that membership.

Training...

Creating & Presenting 3D Models in AutoCAD

18th - 20th November 2008

Places are still available on the second of our AutoCAD training courses for engineers and designers at the Marine Design Centre in November. The course is run in conjunction with our Regional Partner, NTC MicroCAD, an Autodesk Authorised Training Centre who also specialise in the supply of Autodesk software and support services. For more information about NTC MicroCAD, please click here.

AutoCAD is a CAD software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting, with its native file format, DWG, being the de facto standard for CAD data interoperability. AutoCAD is used throughout the design world, and these two courses are run for both new users and those already more experienced in the use of AutoCAD.

For more information on this 3-day course, please click here. The closing date for bookings is 3rd November.

Places cost £815 (+VAT) for MDC members and £885 (+ VAT) for non-members, and funding support may be available. For further details please contact us on 0191 255 1710 or email info@marinedesigncentre.com

Equipment & Piping Design

1st - 5th December 2008

We are pleased to announce a further course on PDMS Equipment & Piping Design on 1st - 5th December, in conjunction with AVEVA.

Not only is it great news that AVEVA are putting on the course, but there is also the major advantage that those attending do not have the time and financial costs involved of traveling outside of the region.

This excellent course covers a number of modules useful to equipment engineers & designers as well as instrument and electrical, architectural, piping, layout and structural engineers. The course will consist of basic functions, AVEVA Plant Design set-up, Equipment Design, Piping Design, Clash Detection, Reports and Isometric Production

For full course details please click here.

Places on the course cost £1700 (+ VAT). For further details please contact us on 0191 255 1710 or email info@marinedesigncentre.com

Business Opportunity

An overseas manufacturer of hydrokinetic power generation devices is seeking a joint venture with a UK based company. The UK company would act as a selling agent for the UK / EU market with a long term view of setting up a manufacturing facility here to support the business.

If you would like to explore this opportunity in more detail please contact us by emailing simon.ellis@marinedesigncentre.com

Developing Capacity & Capability

We are pleased to inform members that we have progressed through the first round of bidding for the ONE North East Capacity & Capability Fund. In conjunction with a number of partners we are seeking to increase the supply of design engineers and set up training programmes based on employer requirements to address some of the skills shortages in our sector. 

The project will develop and market-test a new regional approach to continuing professional development (CPD) and a new progression route into Foundation Degree/Higher Apprenticeships provision for design engineers in the marine and energy priority sectors. It will develop work placements as well as a programme of customised, work-based learning designed to meet industry skills needs.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank members for the support they have given to date and invite companies interested in participating to contact John Lockey on 0191 2551710 or john.lockey@marinedesigncentre.com 

Silence in class

As part of our wider role to inform young people in the region as to the great opportunities available within the marine sector, we are pleased to host a visit from a group of teachers from schools throughout the region. The visit, in conjunction with Maersk in Newcastle, will be one of a number of similar initiatives we are planning throughout the next year.....we promise to pay attention and be on our best behaviour!!

Member news...

GSP Titan Contract for Perry Slingsby Systems

Congratulations to MDC member Perry Slingsby Systems on signing a contract to provide ROV capabilities to the multi-million pound new-build construction vessel the GSP Titan.

The multi-purpose vessel commissioned by GSP Titan Ltd is a world-first as it combines offshore pipelay, heavy lift and tender assist drilling operations into one design for the first time.

The contract will see PSS and Sub-Atlantic deliver one 3,000m Comanche system and two 3,000m Triton® XLX 200HP systems in January and November 2010 respectively. Each TXLX is equipped with the ICE® (Integrated Controls Engine) real-time control system and configured with the latest tooling and survey capabilities, state-of-the-art Gb telemetry and graphical diagnostics.

Kevin Taylor, General Manager, Perry Slingsby Systems, said: "The Triton XLX is the world's most successful advanced workclass ROV and I am delighted that GSP have selected PSS as the solution to their ROV requirements."

"We have been working closely with GSP since the start of the year and this contract award recognizes our ability to deliver quality and reliability as well as our capability to offer our customers new and innovative technology."

GSP Titan Ltd is part of the UPETROM Group, an international group of companies with activities in onshore and offshore drilling, oilfield equipment production, as well as in the tourism sector. The 161m vessel will be used to conduct installation of submarine pipelines, transport operations, the removal, dismantling or installation of offshore constructions superstructures weighing up to 1800 tons and tender assist drilling operations. It is due for completion in August 2011.

New member...

We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to Tyne North Training.

Tyne North Training have been successfully delivering engineering manufacturing apprenticeships and NVQ’s within the North East for over 40 years. Their extensive knowledge and capabilities is underpinned by highly experienced Training Officers and a financial training support package that cannot be matched in the sector; offering companies tailored solutions with maximum return on investment.

Specialising in engineering manufacturing, the company delivers an extensive range of apprenticeships and workforce development packages to suit all types and sizes of business. Delivery is project managed throughout by Training Officers who provide a high level of support, allowing companies to focus on achieving their business objectives while TNT develop their future workforce.

Tyne North Training are helping over 100 local engineering manufacturing companies to achieve their business objectives and plan for the future through the development of their people. For more information contact Colin Arkley on 0191- 2626860.

Event news...

Manning The Future

"it's not the ships, it's the men that sail in them" - Joseph Conrad, 1887

7 - 8 November 2008, The Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

For over one hundred years the human element has been recognised as the greatest single factor to safe and profitable ship operations and great attention has been paid to manning and training. Despite this awareness there is a manpower crisis across the maritime sector today, accidents continue to happen and the seafarer is the focus of attention for the regulators, security and enforcement authorities.

The rules of the game will change again when the Maritime Labour Convention comes into force in 2010. This important development is described as the fourth pillar of international maritime regulation, ranking with SOLAS, MARPOL and ISM.

The 2008 Mariner and Maritime Law seminar, the sixteenth in this highly acclaimed series, will focus on the future of manning and training for seagoing and shorebased staff.

This seminar is organised by the Nautical Institute North East branch. For more details click here.

Surviving Piracy & Armed Robbery

4th December 2008, Maersk Training Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

With this year's alarming increase in piracy incidents, we are pleased to draw your attention to this training taster session provided by Maersk Training Centre. Over the last three years, Maersk Training Centre has trained over 350 senior personnel that are working in waters with a potential security risk. The course contains:

• Behaviour in attack, hostage and kidnapping situations 
• Crisis psychology, including: 
  • Aspects and characteristics of the ”acute critical situation” 
  • Immediate and post physical and psychological reactions on an individual and group level 
  • Mental first aid on a buddy level and professional intervention 
  • Approaches to enhance the possibility of survival during piracy 
  • Answering questions in relation to the psychological aspects of piracy

This taster session is free to attend but registration is required. For more information please contact Kim Scott on +44 (0)191 2692471 or email GBRMTCUKFIN@Maersk.com