(BERGEN, Norway) — Boat launch and recovery systems supplier Vestdavit has secured an agreement to provide service, support and spares for the variety of marine davits it has supplied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA operates a fleet of research and survey vessels that conduct a wide variety of missions, including oceanographic research, marine life studies and hydrographic surveys. Davits are needed to handle RHIBs of different sizes and 30-foot hydrographic survey launches, depending on the NOAA mission.
The five-year contract is valued at up to $2.5 million and aligns with U.S. Department of Commerce requirements. It covers 20 davits delivered to multiple NOAA ships and calls for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to provide annual and five-year davit inspections, hook inspections, and full training and technical support.
“It is critical that original and fully tested spare parts are used and that they are maintained by qualified personnel,” said Magnus Oding, gneral manager of Vestdavit’s U.S.-based operation, Vestdavit Inc. “Non-OEM davit parts compromise not only performance, but safety, while rogue technicians are not authorized to offer certification no matter how convincing the documentation may appear. All Vestdavit technicians and service partners have gone through our extensive training and work on Vestdavit systems every day.”
International Maritime Organization resolution MSC.402(96) indicates that, to certify service and spare parts agreements, any third-party must follow certification programs based on OEM guidance. Use of unauthorized spare parts or service technicians can therefore be considered a breach of SOLAS.
– Vestdavit
