Helping keep Navy crews safe

Sep 18 2007 by The Journal

SOLAR Solve Marine recently completed an important order from BAE Systems for the supply of its specialist roller screens.

The SOLASAFE® screens reject glare, heat and ultraviolet light and are to be installed at the wheelhouse windows of the first two Type 45 Daring Class Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers for the UK Royal Navy.

Six ships have been contracted and they are to replace the Type 42 destroyers that have been in service since 1978.

BAE Systems Marine is the prime contractor for the project, with all ships being built at its Scotstoun shipyard on the Clyde. Vosper Thorneycroft in Portsmouth will assemble the bow sections, masts and funnels for all six vessels.

Production of HMS Daring, the first-of-class, was begun in March 2003 and it was launched on February 1 last year at Scotstoun. The vessel is due to enter service in December 2009. Construction of HMS Dauntless, the second vessel, was begun in August 2004 and it was launched on January 23.

Each destroyer will be powered by two 25MW gas turbine engines of advanced design to provide significant space savings and increased fuel efficiency. They will be built by a team led by Rolls-Royce and Northrop Grumman.

With a displacement of 8,000 tonnes, a projected speed greater than 27 knots and a range of more than 7,000 nautical miles, these Type 45 destroyers will be equipped with long-range weapon systems to intercept air threats including super-agile manoeuvring missiles.

Solar Solve Marine’s SOLASAFE® roller screens act as a navigation safety aid, enhancing navigators’ ability to view electronic charts and see clearly outside in sunny or icy weather.

Made in South Shields, they are type approved by DNV, Lloyds and ABS. The use of such screens is recommended in current legislation governing navigation bridge environmental conditions.

Solar Solve’s sales and marketing executive Paul Hopkins said: “We are very proud of our continued successful relationship with UK MoD and the fact that we are an approved supplier. These Type 45 vessels have been in the pipeline for a long time, as we originally quoted for this project in 2002, but at least we have now completed the first two.”