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the hazardous contents of a vessel from design through to disposal. Equipment Suppliers UK marine equipment suppliers, however, have experienced tough times over the last few years "but have emerged lean and hungry generally producing innovative and high tech products at competitive prices which the world's shipbuilding yards are pre- pared to procure and place on their makers lists", claims John Southerden, director of the British Marine Equipment Association (BMEA), emphasizing that some 70% of newbuild value can be in equipment alone. Marine equipment producers in the UK have had to embark on major export drives to survive and Southerden estimates that the majority of UK OEMs export up to 80% of their products, which encourages competitiveness and react favourably to quotes and delivery times with dispatch to keep ahead of the game. UK companies are establishing a very good image worldwide in respect of after sales service through long established agency networks and this can reduce the "through life" costs which shipowners, operators and managers face throughout the life of the ship. They also keep ahead of the competition by ensuring their products are class type approved by the leading classification societies, said Southerden. BMEA plays a major role in facilitating Government grants through U.K. Trade and Investment to ensure UK marine equipment suppliers are able to explore new export markets as well as further develop those where they have a foothold. "We have recently taken marine companies to Poland, Turkey, and China on outward trade missions to the shipyards, design cen- tres and to meet shipowners," said Southerden, whose Association is able to arrange for firms to meet ship- yard procurement teams on a one to one basis, match- ing the type of product with the actual buyer. Korean Seal of Approval Southerden said that Samsung Heavy Industries had shown him a list of its U.K. suppliers, which "embraced the majority of our members", while the Procurement Director at DSME in charge of their massive newbuild programs, singled out Hamworthy's unique and innovative boil-off gas reliquefaction sys- tem for LNG propulsion units." In December, last year the UK-based fluid systems supplier won orders and a letter of intent totaling $87.6 million to supply eight LNG Reliquefaction Systems (RS) to the world's largest LNG carriers — and the first to use low-speed diesel propulsion engines — being built in Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). At the time of writing, Hamworthy has also announced firm orders for four more liquid natural gas reliquefaction systems plus an option for one further shipset from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). The systems will be deliverable to SHI over the period mid 2006 to mid 2007. However, due to commercial sensi- tivities Hamworthy was unable to disclose to Maritime Reporter the value of the contract. These LNG tankers will be part of the fleet that will carry LNG from the expanding QatarGas II field. The new orders bring the total number of confirmed Hamworthy LNG-RS on order to 12 shipsets. Kelvyn Derrick, Chief Executive, Hamworthy plc said: 'They reflect a growing trend for oil companies to seek the long term cost savings provided by slow speed diesel propulsion with LNG-RS. 64 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Circle 234 on Reader Service Card Circle 237 on Reader Service Card 2005 YEARBOOK The UK lengthened the !GARIEP, a De Beers diamond mining vessel by A&P Tyne, in 2003. MR JUNE 2005 #8 (57-64).qxd 6/2/2005 4:12 PM Page 64
