Unique Group’s Daughter Craft for Vertech

Unique Group has delivered two new dive systems and a diving vessel worth around £5 million to services provider, Vertech.

The Hydracraft 1500 Daughter Craft vessel, named the Vaila, is nearly 50ft long and designed for air diving activity. The hull is designed to provide an enhanced stability, optimising operational efficiency.

Unique Group’s UK managing director, Ray Hughes, handed the vessel over to Vertech’s UK managing director, John Marsden, and Vertech’s diving manager, Alan Melia in Aberdeen last week.

According to Unique, the Vaila is the first Daughter Craft which has been built for purpose, from concept through to design. Other vessels used for the same purposes have been conversions of existing craft. The daughter craft system is designed for conducting diving operations for underwater inspection in locations otherwise inaccessible by larger vessels.

The project was initiated when Vertech formed a new commercial diving entity. They approached Unique for surface diving systems and so the concept development for the Daughter Craft began in May 2014.

Ray Hughes said: “Delivering the Daughter Craft to Vertech has been a magnificent achievement for Unique Group. We have worked closely with our client, ensuring the design and operations of the vessel are first class. It is essential that the craft and its associated equipment provide a safe and comfortable working environment for the divers and crew onboard. Unique Group’s strength is in our continued ability to provide turnkey solutions tailored to suit our clients’ requirements. The supply of the Daughter Craft and dive systems demonstrates the versatility and diversity of our energy sector capabilities.”

John Marsden commented, “At Vertech it is really important that we provide our Client’s with the very best safety performance, service, and value. The dive systems we have purchased from Unique Group are a key part of this; the systems themselves are well proven with a good track record. They have been designed to meet our onerous specifications and incorporate all the latest recommendations from IMCA. This kit is state-of-the-art and the service we have received from Unique has exceeded our expectations.”

The Vaila can hold a maximum of 10 people and will be based at a North-East port. It has its own single launch and recovery system, the Macgregor G150 Davit.