EB opens new facilities to support the offshore sector

Company News - February 5, 2010

Tyneside, UK-based offshore engineering specialist IHC Engineering Business (EB) has opened a new manufacturing and support facility at Riverside Quay, Port of Tyne. It will now form the central hub of the company's manufacturing activity.

"EB's existing business, as a leading supplier of offshore systems, will be expanded to offer an increase in services to our oil and gas and other offshore clients," explained Managing Director, Toby Bailey. "Our new facility allows us to accommodate larger vessels than those that could take advantage of our previous base at the Hadrian yard on the North bank of the Tyne. At Riverside Quay we can take vessels of up to 10.5m draft. Split between three areas, we now have some 1,300m of quayside accommodating multiple vessels and operations at any one time."

EB's ambition is to make the Riverside Quay facility an attractive winter and downtime base for vessels by offering a combination of cost effective berthing charges backed up by extensive support and engineering services.

A major investment is being made to upgrade the 7484m2 of covered space by installing hydraulic and electrical cleans rooms, overhead craneage, office facilities,
secure storage, and project offices for clients operating from the base.

Mick Beezer, EB's newly appointed Offshore Support Base Manager, explained: "Although set up to provide standard support services such as a location for vessel crew change outs and equipment loadouts, EB differentiates itself from other offshore bases by the ability to support new equipment design and modifications to vessel systems in-house. "

"Linked to this EB can provide appointed person lifts, welding inspection, hire of certified lifting equipment, test facilities for mechanical, electrical and hydraulic systems, as well as training for EB-provided equipment," he adds. "Commissioning, mobilisation, demobilisation and conversion activities will all be conducted with EB's dedicated on-site team support."

"The development of our new support base business is a further commitment to offer our clients a full range of services from concept design right through the operational life of equipment and vessels. The base at Riverside Quay allows us to offer a single point of contact and management for a broad range of support services, all at one site."

Andrew Moffat, CEO of the Port of Tyne says: "We are delighted to welcome EB to the Port of Tyne. We believe this not only cements the position of a hugely successful and growing business in the North East but also retains some highly skilled jobs in the region, it also marks a milestone in the port's development and is another example of the diversification in our business model."