Exceptional vision for a fast vessel

Norwegian operator, Umoe Mandal, has purchased six External Panorama Pantograph heavy duty windscreen wipers from UK based DuroWipers to equip a newbuild Surface Effect Ship (SES).

Statkraft has entered into an initial six month charter agreement for the new WaveCraft vessel to transport its O&M turbine technicians to and from the Sheringham Shoal offshore windfarm off the coast of Norfolk.

Mr Ole Guttorm Ihme, contract manager, Umoe Mandal, said: “DuroWipers were selected based on their weight, price and quality. Light weight equipment is immensely important for an SES in order to achieve greater comfort at speeds of 40 knots, which the vessels are known for.”

Noel Gould, of Durowipers added that because DuroWipers are maintenance free, a unique selling point in the market, the operator can expect greater cost savings over the vessels’ lifetime.

The initial meeting took place on the DuroWiper stand at Seawork 2015 where they were able to appreciate the performance and quality of the wipers. Umoe Mandal was impressed by the eleven external wiper systems supplied by DuroWipers to the ‘London Titan’ vessel owned by the Port of London Authority, which was on the pontoons at the exhibition.

Also on display at Seawork 2015 was the new RNLI Shannon Class lifeboat fitted with DuroWipers. The patented design the RNLI now specifies, uses the unique rotary mechanism which converts the rotary power from the motor to a reciprocating motion at the wiper arm.