Fast response for marine sunscreens
The ‘Noordhoek Constructor’, now operating with Solasafe sunscreens in the wheelhouse
Solar Solve Marine, the UK manufacturer of Solasolv anti-glare, heat rejecting roller screens for wheelhouse windows, says it was recently able to offer a rapid response to an urgent enquiry from Smit.
The Noordhoek Constructor, a DP-equipped diving (saturation) support vessel built at Niigata in Japan and delivered in 2009 was arriving imminently in Great Yarmouth. The crew had been experiencing problems with heat and glare from the sun in the wheelhouse so a technician was requested to survey and take measurements for sunscreens in order to prevent further problems.
The technician set out within 30 minutes on the 450km, 5.5h journey from the Solar Solve HQ in South Shields. The swift action meant that when the vessel docked early the following morning, the survey could be completed and the necessary window measurements taken for both the forward and aft window sections of the wheelhouse. These measurements were then quickly forwarded to Solar Solve so a quotation could be prepared and sent to the vessel’s superintendent. On receipt of the quotation an order was confirmed by Smit for both the forward and aft window sections of the vessel with delivery to the shipping agents in Great Yarmouth for the vessel’s next call in the UK.
Once installed, the screens will protect the crew against the effects of sun glare and solar gain, whilst offering a 100% clear outside view for safer navigation. The film used in the roller screens is tinted which significantly reduces eye-strain ensuring the equipment displays are easier to read, so human errors are less likely to occur. The aluminium layer embedded in the film rejects heat to reduce fatigue, and create a more comfortable and cooler working environment. Lower demand is placed on wheelhouse air-conditioning systems, so owners can benefit from fuel savings and lower CO₂ emissions.
Solar Solve’s sales and marketing executive, Paul Hopkins commented, “This amazing level of customer service was required in order to achieve something we initially didn’t think was going to be logistically possible. However, with our dedicated team we made the effort and were rewarded with a substantial order for Solasolv sunscreens and one more happy customer and crew.”
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