Lymington Yacht Haven is delighted to congratulate long-standing tenant Solent Rib Charters on receiving a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation.
The award recognises the company's development of CRC Walrus, an innovative amphibious crew transfer vessel designed to improve access to offshore wind turbines in challenging intertidal environments.
Founded in Lymington and now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Solent Rib Charters has grown from operating small open RIBs on the Solent to becoming an internationally recognised marine operator and vessel developer. Today, the company supports major marine events and commercial projects across Europe while continuing to operate from Lymington.
The award-winning CRC Walrus was developed to address a significant challenge facing offshore windfarm operators. Traditional crew transfer vessels are often restricted by tidal conditions, limiting access to turbines during low water. CRC Walrus can transition from open water to exposed sandbanks, allowing technicians to reach turbines safely and efficiently regardless of the tide.
The vessel, which entered service in 2023, has already demonstrated its value in offshore windfarm operations, creating more reliable maintenance access while helping to reduce operational downtime.
Commenting on the achievement, Stuart Hedges, Director and Co-founder of Solent Rib Charters, said: “We were delighted when we found out we had been recognised in the King’s Award for Enterprise. It’s fantastic recognition for all the hard work the team has put into making CRC Walrus a reality.
“This award comes during our 25th year, which makes the recognition even more special.”
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are among the UK's most prestigious business awards, recognising outstanding achievement in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Everyone at Lymington Yacht Haven extends their congratulations to Stuart and the entire Solent Rib Charters team on this remarkable achievement and wishes them continued success as they expand their innovative technologies into international markets.
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