Houlder won the contracts to upgrade the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) handling capability of the Royal Navy’s Type 22 and Type 23 Frigates.

This involves being accountable for the design, engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of over thirty C-shaped davits with integral bases and cradles. Each unit has the capacity to take loads of up to 3.5 tonnes and caters for four different RIB types.

The davits feature heave compensating technology which automatically maintains approximately 500 kg of line tension in sea states of up to 7. Key to the success of the project is Houlder’s ability to create a bespoke design that minimises impact on the existing deck arrangements and support systems, while fulfilling a challenging operational requirement.

To see examples of our other projects click here.