10th June: Seawork Exhibition

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This year I went to Seawork out of interest because I knew that Furuno would be displaying the radar from NCI Stone Point (and NCI Lee on the Solent).  I was somewhat surprised at the reception I got on the NCI stand where I was questioned as to why I had NCI on my visitor badge.  Although they were also displaying the radar from Stone Point there was no interest on how we use it or how useful it might be.

However I had a good conversation on the Furuno stand with their National Sales Manager and found out more about what the system might be capable of.  It sounds as if it should be possible to link the Timezero display with our CCTV camera.

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The Seawork “Marina”
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Border Force RIB on one side
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Same RIB but with velcro panel hiding the ID
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Marchwood workboat with barge
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Marchwood workboat with barge
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The barge is modular and submersible!
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Car transporter at the Sea Mounting port
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Other boats in the “marina”
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Stone Point radar on the Furuna display

The “marina” display seemed smaller than in previous years.  I noticed that the words “Border Force” on their RIB could be covered over by a panel which was held in place with velcro.  The only “vessel” I spent some time on was one of the Marchwood workboats and the self propelled barge.  We sometimes see them passing Calshot Tower.  The barge is modular and can carry up to 300 tons (I think they said) but in the falklands war had been loaded to 350 tons of vehicles at which point the barge itself was under water.

I had noticed that there was a car transporter in what used to be called the Sea Mounting port.  Apparently ABP use the facility for commercial car imports.  If there is a war the army get control of it again.