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Briggs Marine takes delivery of new maintenance support vessel from Freire Shipyard
Member news
Fife, United Kingdom: Briggs Marine is delighted to have taken delivery of its new state-of-the-art maintenance support vessel, MV Forth Constructor, built by the renowned shipbuilding company Freire Shipyard in Spain.
The much-anticipated addition to the Briggs’ fleet represents a major achievement in the company’s ongoing commitment to providing market-leading marine services. The 40m DP2 vessel, designed to Briggs’ specification by Cintranaval in conjunction with Freire Shipyard, will enable Briggs to continue to expand and develop its offering in contracts with UK Government and Port and Harbour Authorities as well as providing services to the Offshore Wind & Renewables sector.
The primary role of the Forth Constructor will be the servicing of heavy moorings and navigation marks but the vessel is also well-equipped to carry out a range of offshore support tasks including diving and ROV, seabed investigation and survey, offshore wind support and crucially, with a draught of only 2.5m, inshore cable laying operations.
Specifications with safety and productivity in mind
MV Forth Constructor is equipped with a DP2 position keeping capability with diesel-electric propulsion, offering significantly improved fuel efficiency and technical resilience. The vessel meets or exceeds all current and anticipated emissions standards.
MV Forth Constructor has generous deck outfit configured for maximum crew safety and continued service in arduous conditions where required. The vessel has comfortable accommodation for 6 crew and up to 10 project members. Crew comfort has been prioritised with well-appointed ensuite cabins for crew members, and the builder has paid particular attention to minimising noise and vibration levels throughout the vessel.
ETZ Ltd Challenge Fund
ETZ Ltd has launched the latest round of the Supply Chain Challenge Fund. To date, £5m has been invested by ETZ Ltd to support 37 companies in their ambition to transition into low carbon energy sectors. This is a great opportunity for companies to de-risk and accelerate capital investment required to exploit these markets.
The Challenge Fund supports high-growth potential companies across North East Scotland’s energy sector to enter the low carbon industry. The Challenge Fund will award grant funding between £50k and £250k to accelerate innovation and market entry, support business growth, and create new jobs in the energy transition. Applications may include new industrial facilities, manufacturing and automation of equipment, installation, and existing industry infrastructure upgrades, including digital infrastructure.
Consideration will only be given to awards at the upper end of the range if there is a particularly strong funding case.
The fund will primarily support SMEs servicing the Oil and Gas market in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray to transition to new or existing opportunities in new and existing low carbon markets.
The Challenge Fund is administered by ETZ Ltd and supported through the Scottish Government’s Just Transition fund.
Applications are now open, until the deadline date 27 March 2025.
Forth and Tay Offshore Newsletter - February 2025
Welcome to the February issue of our e-newsletter, where you can read about industry events and publications as well as activities that the Forth and Tay Offshore (F&TO) cluster is leading or supporting.
Claim R&D Tax Relief for Grant-Funded Offshore Energy Projects
Member blog
by Fawzi Abou-Chahine, FI Group
Claim R&D Tax Relief for Grant-Funded Offshore Energy Projects
Fawzi Abou-Chahine from FI Group weighs in on the importance of maximising R&D tax relief for grant-funded offshore energy projects. With extensive experience in helping businesses navigate the complexities of R&D tax credits, Fawzi provides valuable insights on how offshore firms can avoid common pitfalls and ensure they are fully leveraging available funding opportunities.
How to avoid common mistakes in R&D tax credit claims.
Recent statistics from HMRC indicate that SMEs in the offshore energy sector are increasingly funding their R&D projects through subsidised expenditure, either via grants or commercial contracts. However, many businesses miss out on potential tax relief simply because they don’t realise their grant-related expenditure is eligible. Below are five ways to help you identify if your project costs are suitable for relief, to help you maximise your funding.
Member Spotlight: V-TES Renewables
V-TES Renewables delivers specialist electrical engineering services to the renewables industry both on and offshore, providing High Voltage (HV), Fibre, Switchgear and Rope Access expertise.
The servicing and maintenance of an offshore wind farm’s electrical system requires a combination of scheduled inspections, routine maintenance, and prompt repairs. Regular monitoring and maintenance activities help ensure the reliable and efficient operation of the electrical infrastructure.
Our expert team of qualified field service engineers and technical support professionals provide electrical design solutions, installation and maintenance support, commissioning, and electrical training to our customers globally.
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