Britlift’s bespoke lifting frames are supporting the development of a new generation of leading-edge maritime craft.
SubSea Craft (SSC) is a developer of advanced maritime technology for the defense sector. Its two flagship products are VICTA and MARS. VICTA is a next-generation maritime delivery platform capable of a high-speed surface transit before rapidly transitioning to submersible mode for covert delivery of operators and equipment. MARS is an uncrewed surface vessel which SSC designed, developed and deployed on the water within 100 days, demonstrating the company’s cutting-edge capabilities.
Based in Portsmouth, UK, SSC needed some lifting equipment to help get the pioneering craft in and out of the water, as well as for dry dock work. SSC works closely with Below the Hook Services (BTH) and reached out to them for advice. BTH recommended its long-time partner, Britlift, which developed and manufactured a custom frame.
Nick Buzzard, HSE lead at SSC, said: “Our maritime technology products are leading edge and unique, requiring a bespoke lifting solution to safely and effectively lift the craft in and out of the water, or onto other vessels.”
Britlift’s modular frame breaks into four parts for ease of transport and storage. Following the success of the lifting frame, SSC commissioned Britlift to create bespoke solutions for lifting engines and battery packs during the manufacturing and testing processes.
Ian McCabe, lead boatbuilder at SSC, added: “We use some pretty big lithium-ion battery packs that fit into a very tight space in the craft. So, we needed a bespoke lifting frame built within highly specific tolerances and Britlift was able to deliver that. Since then, we have asked them to develop something similar for engine lifts.
“With the battery lifting frame they worked with us to get it bang on and it works perfectly,” added Ian. “There are 12 lifting points, and they all have to be precisely located within very tight tolerances.
“Britlift are pretty easy to deal with. Whenever we have raised even a slight issue, they have been very quick to resolve it. I have had a lot of experience with their boat lifting frames and they are super-reliable as well as easy to assemble. Everything comes with clear markings which makes it foolproof – I can give it to any member of my team with full confidence that they can properly assemble it.”
Based in Dorset, UK, Britlift works with a global client base, providing an end-to-end lifting equipment engineering design service including calculations, design, manufacture, certification, and rig design.
The qualified mechanical and structural engineers at Britlift will work with the client during the design phase, ensuring the most efficient, effective, safe and suitable solution is engineered, be that a lifting beam or frame, a bespoke handling or lifting tool, complex rig design, or FEA. Its Traditional Modular spreader beam is also available in a wide variety of standard sizes.
For further details, visit www.britlift.com.