IE and V.Ships in strategic partnership

UK-based Intelligent Engineering (IE) has signed an agreement with leading shipping services provider V.Ships Marine Services to promote opportunities for the application of the company’s Sandwich Plate System (SPS) technology.

Specifically, IE will be working closely with V.Ships Holdings’ SeaSquad Repair Services Ltd, SeaTec Ltd and the Marine Contracting Association (MARCAS) to identify projects in which its SPS Overlay, used for non-intrusive steel strengthening and reinstatement, can offer time and cost savings, as compared with conventional “crop and replace” steel repair techniques.

“This strategic partnership is a particularly exciting development for us,” says IE’s Denis Welch, Director SPS Overlay. “V.Ships is the world’s largest shipping services provider including a ship management division with more than 600 ships under management. We believe that SPS Overlay offers substantial opportunities to make steel repairs within the V.Ships-managed fleet and those operated by MARCAS, and indeed our other third party client base members quicker and more effective.”

Shay Devine, Chief Executive Marine Services commented, “V.Ships is committed to providing value to its customers. We have evaluated SPS Overlay technology and believe that it can provide a cost effective and time saving alternative solution to steel repairs in a number of circumstances.”

V.Ships subsidiary, SeaSquad Repair Services Ltd, offers its own specialist repair and maintenance personnel to supplement ships’ staff and provide assistance in carrying out voyage repairs. This service is provided to many third party customers in addition to vessels managed by V.Ships. Under the agreement with IE, SeaSquad Repair Services will be able to undertake SPS steelwork preparation during the voyage further improving the fast turnaround offered by SPS Overlay. And at some future stage to provide a full range of Overlay repairs using its own equipment.

SeaTec Ltd provides design consultancy services and has undertaken training in SPS technology from IE, which enables its naval architects to undertake SPS engineering projects.