Support craft for the 2012 Olympiad

Suppliers announced of the 150 or so craft required for the Games

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has announced the suppliers of the majority of 150 support (non-competition) boats required for the Sailing, Rowing, Canoeing, Triathlon and Open Water Swim events to be staged in the summer of 2012. A further 30 craft are to be sourced by the RYA from sailing clubs across the UK, providing a great opportunity for the clubs and owners to get involved in the 2012 Games.

Over the course of 2010, LOCOG went to the marine market with three different business opportunities - 1) commercial charter of Support Boats, both Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) and motor yachts; 2) purchase of RIBs and other boats; 3) outboard motors to be sourced direct from marine engine manufacturers.

Chris Townsend, LOCOG Commercial Director, said: “The boat and marine services procurement LOCOG has undertaken this year has provided significant wins for a range of different companies across the South West and South East of England, including charter contracts for 19 boats from the Weymouth and Portland area. Securing the supply of a wide range of boats for use by different client groups including mark layers, marshals and media is a major milestone in the journey towards the successful staging of the water-based events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Charter

Contracts for commercial charter have been awarded to 19 commercial fishing and dive boats operating out of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Harbour, Dorset. Every boat owner from the Weymouth & Portland fleet (the closest to the venue for the London 2012 sailing competition) who responded to the invitation to tender with a boat that met the requirements was offered a contract with LOCOG. These boats will undertake race management and marshalling duties at Games time and the local boat owners are guaranteed 23 days of consecutive charter work from LOCOG. Four of the local boats will act as race start boats, also known as Committee Boats.

Solent Rib Charter, based in Lymington, was successful with its bid to supply 24 charter RIBs together with the management structure LOCOG requires to operate that many boats, often simultaneously, at Games time.

Rob Stevens, Chief Executive of the British Marine Federation, the voice of the leisure and small commercial marine industry said: “I am delighted that so many British and British-based companies have won contracts for the 2012 Olympics. This is a great start to what promises to be a wonderful opportunity for British marine companies to maximise the benefits that the Games will bring pre, during and post, whilst also showcasing British excellence to a global audience.”

Purchase

Ribcraft Ltd, a British manufacturer of Rigid Inflatable Boats based in Yeovil, Somerset has been awarded a contract to manufacture 64 RIBs. The craft will be used for jury, umpire, mark laying and measurement roles during the 2011 Sailing Test events and Olympic and Paralympic Games. At least four of the mark laying RIBs will be donated to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) post Games to help support the sport and run more world class domestic and international sailing events run in the UK in the future.

Isle of Wight (Cowes) based South Boats Special Projects Ltd. won the LOCOG commission to build a new South Catamaran 11m to be used as one of five Committee Boats at the London 2012 sailing events. Named Gyrinus after the Team GB gold-medal winning boat in Motorboat Racing at the 1908 Games, this state-of-the-art craft will also be donated by LOCOG to the RYA post Games to assist with the management of future events.

A further 21 second hand RIBs were purchased by LOCOG earlier this year from the America’s Cup Management Company. These top-class boats met the requirements of LOCOG for Games time use and are an example of efficient recycling and reuse of event equipment.
Engines

Suzuki GB, based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire has been appointed as sole supplier for up to 90 four stroke outboard motors to power the RIBs LOCOG is having manufactured. They will also support the Rowing, Canoe and Swimming events with other specialist motorised craft.