New managers at Cosalt in Lowestoft

The branch now has an operations manager, an engineering manager and a sales office manager as well as a branch manager. Together they run a 40-strong team of engineers, riggers, technicians, sales, administration and support staff.

Joining Short on the team is operations manager Chris Lark, who has worked for Cosalt for over 20 years. He is responsible for the smooth operation of the marine service bay and ratchet manufacturing facility. He also looks after the warehouse, goods in and dispatch functions. New recruit David Vesty is the branch’s engineering manager, who runs the rigging workshop, the engineering department, the test bed facility and the hire department. Keeping on top of sales and administration is Amanda Easter who has joined Cosalt as sales office manager.

Explained branch manager Short: “This new structure means we can provide customers with a single point of contact for dealing with specific queries or problems. If, for example, a customer has a question about the servicing of a liferaft, they will speak to Chris. If it is an enquiry about a chain block, they will speak to David. With three senior managers now working underneath me, my time is free to visit customers and speak to them personally. It means I can get to know their business better and what they need. This is an important part of the service we provide.”

Cosalt’s clients are mainly in the shipping, passenger ship, oil and gas, renewables, civil engineering and emergency services sectors. The company’s core activities cover marine safety, fibre and wire rope and lifting and inspection services. The Lowestoft branch has extensive workshop facilities for refurbishing RIBs and fast rescue craft and carrying out glassfibre repairs. In addition, it operates a large horizontal test bed. The 250 ton facility is used to test subsea and umbilical cables for offshore customers.