Inflated worth for the maritime industry

Workboats. A title applicable to many vessels. Rigid-inflatable boats or RIBs, light-weight but high-performance and high-capacity boats are as stable and seaworthy as any other workboat, with the added bonus of remaining flexible and being able to advance closely to other vessels. EuroOffshore and Post Workboats are two companies both known and respected in the RIB industry. In this edition they share their innovations and views on the industry with Maritime by Holland Magazine.

“We deliver vessels for private consumers, as well as companies”, states Herman Vroege of EuroOffshore. “Much of our business is linked to the offshore industry, along with rescue boats, fast rescue boats-lifeboats and freefall boats. The Davits are one of our focus points, and have been since 1998, in which we represent three Chinese customers. The second group we producing are the aluminium workboats under the name Alunautic.nl, such as workboats-landing crafts and RIBs. The last group are our polyester RIBs, named Blue Spirit.nl. Blue Spirit has a joint venture with partners in Vietnam and Poland. These partnerships mean we can create the volumes we want to.” EuroOffshore counts twelve employees in total. In the RIB industry it becomes clear that your network is your livelihood. A small company in Urk, the Netherlands, called Post Workboats is also a well-known company within in the RIB-producing industry.

Family-oriented

“We started as a water sports company”, smiles Klaas Post, owner of Post Workboats. “Handed down from father to son, and so forth, a real family-oriented company. Almost 30 years ago, one of our customers wanted a small boat, that could do hard work, but still remained flexible. Around that time I was at a trade fair in England and met a company named Tornado, a producer of RIBs. I was sold immediately. This RIB was so flexible and sturdy, I was amazed. We really put ourselves out there 30 years ago. And to this day the work done in England remains less costly than in the Netherlands. A main indication of why our partnership is valuable for us, along with their knowledge of the industry and of RIBs, of course. Really, I had never seen anything like a RIB and they last and have lasted through the decades. After the initial introduction to RIBS in England, we have inundated Tornado with many projects, questions and the drive for innovation. The RIBs are produced in China and are transported to the Netherland where we do the final fitting.” Post Workboats can produce RIBs, but also charter them. A custom-build is something Post enjoys and does wholeheartedly.

New developments

The production of RIBs also has its innovations, for instance, a new development for EuroOffshore is the Alunautic RIB with PU dismountable foam fender, a project they are currently working on that is expected to launch in 2013. Alunautic are aluminum crew-workboats consisting of a whole programme starting at 3.5 metre length boats with a small engine, up to 20 metre lengths. The product itself can be made at EuroOffshore’s Werkendam location in the Netherlands.

Vroege: “The hull is aluminium and can be built in three different versions; outboard-stern drive and mid engine configurations all on customers requirements. Aluminium is a good material to work with, as it is easy to repair, although it costs slightly more to build. Polyester, is a little more sensitive, more difficult to repair. Our concept is such that we remain flexible. We presented a new product group during the Monaco Yacht Show this year and received a lot of positive feedback. Our goal is to have an eight-step-plan to a custom build RIB, unique and also simple for our customers.”

Safety and security

RIBs are real rescue craft, they can get to their destinations quickly and efficiently. It no surprise that both Post Workboats and EuroOffshore have strong ties to the rescue industry.

Post Workboats often assists in rescue operations and has, in the past, refitted RIBs to be able to handle simple salvage work. Post: “RIBs are the way to go for rescue operations. They are seaworthy, work hard, and are sturdy. RIBs are not only there for private consumers, but also for companies. Governmental bodies also use RIBs. Whenever they require the RIB, I can have it ready very quickly.” Euro Offshore is also partner in a group of computer designers where they built the Multi Management System (MMS) for workboats. This workboat computer will be water tide (IP67) and communicates worldwide with the back office of the management team. MMS is a monitoring system including the following aspects: motor management viewing, man overboard security, administration. The security system in MMS knows where the vessel is and who is on board thanks to the camera. As such, acquiring help becomes easier and also maintenance can be done assisted from shore, you simply point the camera at the problem at hand. This innovation was also introduced during the Monaco Yacht Show.

Red Bull Air race

“RIBs not only have a very serious function, like rescuing”, comments Post. “Our RIBs have also assist in projects such as the Red Bull Air race, where they proved to be the only vessels able to assisted quickly and efficiently.” Post Workboats was happy to lend a hand with six of their RIBs and they traveled the globe doing so, working to transfer cameras and sound equipment. “Such projects are reeled in thanks to networking,” smiles Post. “I knew someone, who knew someone else, who knew someone working on the Red Bull Air race. It’s just how it goes.” Post Workboats also worked on the Volvo Ocean Race, something the yard is proud of. The next chapter will be lending a hand supporting the new windmill park near Urk. The initial steps have been taken en Post is looking forward to starting work for this latest development.

Go fast and look good

RIBs are safe, flexible boats that can be deployed even during very adverse weather conditions. A unique type of workboat, with a difference. As Post concludes: “You know, nobody wants to be seen sailing in a Tupperware box. RIBs are very manly vessels that go fast and are very safe. Really, it is every man’s dream.”

Rebecca McFedries