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The Norwegian firm has secured a contract to provide launch-and-recovery systems to the US Navy.
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Vestdavit Inc, a US-based subsidiary of Norwegian firm Vestdavit, has been awarded a contract to supply boat handling systems to two of the US Navy’s expeditionary fast transport (EPF), which are currently under construction by Australian shipbuilding firm Austral in Mobile, Alabama.
Vestdavit will install a 2TDB-7000 davit system in each of the EPFs (EPF13 and EPF14) to support the vessels, which will be deployed for the high-speed, intra-theatre transport of personnel and supplies as well as military vehicles and equipment.
“When they join the US Navy’s EPF fleet, these two vessels will be facing unpredictable and potentially very challenging conditions,” Vestdavit managing director Rolf Andreas Wigand said.
“Because of this, they require flexible, high-performance marine davits that can keep up with their fast-paced and dynamic operations.
“As our most sophisticated dual-point system yet, the 2TDB-7000 meets all of these criteria and more.”
He claimed that the hydraulically operated 2TDB-7000 davit would enable the safe launch and recovery of 11-metre rigid-hull inflatable boats in conditions up to sea state 6 and at 10 knots.
According to the Wigand, the system is specifically designed for flexibility and features a painter boom, a wire hauler, shock absorbers and dual independent winches with constant-tension that are controlled by PLC.
The steel davit is made with an aluminium foundation frame designed to minimises overall weight.
This is the latest of several contracts secured by Vestdavit in 2020, which include agreements with the Royal Navy, the French Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
The Norwegian company also recently secured a contract to supply davits to two Expeditionary Sea Base ships for the US Navy.
This latest US Navy contract also represents yet another joint operation between Vestdavit and Austal, with Vestdavit providing over 60 davit systems for deployment on a variety of ships built by the Australian company.
“2020 is proving to be a big year for investments in security and defence forces around the world, and we are honoured to have been chosen to supply the US Navy’s forthcoming Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels,” Magnus Oding, general manager, Vestdavit Inc said.
“Our credentials and portfolio are speaking for themselves but we would also like to acknowledge our continuing exceptionally good relationship with the world’s largest navy, as well as the insights offered by Austal in serving its needs on this occasion in particular.”
