Rix contract

A Hull (UK) shipping company with more than 140 years’ experience of working on the Humber estuary has won a contract at one of the region’s biggest offshore developments. Rix Sea Shuttle, part of the fifth-generation J.R. Rix & Sons group, is to supply crew transfer vessel the ‘Rix Panther’ to carry personnel and equipment to and from a local windfarm off the Humber coast

The Rix Panther has initially been contracted for six weeks but with an option to extend the work period should the development require it.

James Doyle, managing director of Rix Sea Shuttle, said after winning a string of international contracts he was delighted to be working on a local development.

Mr Doyle said: “The Rix name has been synonymous with shipping in the Humber estuary for nearly a century and a half and being a family company that has invested a great deal in the region over those years, we are absolutely delighted to see the renewables industry develop at such a pace in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

“We have won a string of contracts in European and UK waters recently but to win a contract on our own doorstep is a real source of pride. It is testament to how important the Humber region has become to the global renewables industry and to how Rix is regarded in the sector.”

The aluminium Rix Panther was the first crew transfer vessel in the Rix Sea Shuttle fleet and was made by Blyth-based builder Alnmaritec.

It is powered by twin Cummins QSK19 800bhp diesel engines, can carry up to 12 technicians and can reach speeds of up to 30 knots and joins sister vessels the Rix Lion, Rix Cheetah and Rix Tiger.

Rix Sea Shuttle has supplied crew transfer vessels to some of the UK and Europe’s biggest offshore wind farm developments including Gwynt y Mor, Lynn and Inner Dowsing and at Baltic 2 in the German Baltic.