Vestdavit, a Norwegian specialist manufacturer of davits, has revealed details of its largest order yet. The Laksevåg-based company will provide “high-specification davits” for six Canadian Coast Guard vessels. 

The firm has signed a contract with Canadian shipyard Seaspan in Vancouver, which is building the new vessels. It will send six FF-15000 davit systems in the initial phase of the contract, with an option for 10 further units under a second phase. 

The FF-15000 is a design adapted from a larger FF-style system, produced for an earlier contract. The hydraulic system is said to offer greater flexibility of the type of boat handled by the davit, due to its innovative design without structures built “behind or underneath daughter craft”.

“[The] deck-mounted davit, with a 15000kg safe working load (SWL) capacity, can operate in both single and dual-point configuration for optimal performance with various sizes of craft,” Vestdavit explained. 

The firm noted the FF-15000 could lift TEU containers thanks to this flexibility. 

Magnus Oding, general manager of US subsidiary Vestdavit Inc said the order is a “vindication” for its approach.

“This also represents a vindication of our efficient delivery model with easy access for the yard to digital drawings during the ship design phase, timely delivery, effective follow-up by Vestdavit during construction and ease of installation with our modular systems.”

“Solutions such as the FF-15000 provide the client with sophisticated features to meet high specifications for fail-safe davit operations. This important reference project builds on Vestdavit’s already strong reputation in our core navy and coastguard market with a solution for enhanced davit reliability,” Oding added.

Coastguard operations are dependent on a high level of davit efficiency and availability, as well as redundancy, for frequent launch-and-recovery operations to perform a variety of essential tasks, such as rescue missions or law enforcement, according to Vestdavit. 

The company explained that its technology and design would benefit coastguard operations. 

“The motion-compensated davit also incorporates advanced features such as shock absorbers, dual winches that each have independent constant tension and an anti-pendulation device with guide arms for maximum stability to safely launch and recover boats in rough sea conditions.”