New Zealand Navy Patrol Vessels are Solar Solved

Solar Solve Marine, the South Shields based manufacturer of SOLASOLV, the world’s leading brand of Type Approved anti-glare roller screens for ships navigation bridge windows, regularly dispatches its products to a variety of customers half way round the world in New Zealand.

Recently, working closely with New Zealand Defence Force personnel and representatives from their contractors; Solar Solve Marine’s Carl Johnson and his Technical Sales Team, backed up by their highly skilled Manufacturing and Production Team colleagues; supplied the New Zealanders with anti-glare screens for the first two of four Lake-class inshore patrol vessels.

The ships are highly maneuverable, capable of speeds up to 25 knots and designed for maritime surveillance and patrol missions around New Zealand’s 15,000-kilometer coast and out to the 200 nautical mile limit of its Exclusive Economic Zone. They have fully automated control and navigation systems, powerful engines, modern communications and surveillance systems, active stabilizers and comfortable accommodation for 24 naval personnel and four Government agency officers.  

Carl Johnson, Solar Solve’s Operations Manager explains, “We were contacted in March of this year with the initial enquiry, which was for one vessel but now we will be supplying all four of these Lake-class Inshore Patrol Vessels.”

“To begin with, we could see from the sketches and photographs supplied to us that some of the windows were slightly angled and had obstructions near them, which have to be accounted for when we are creating the final specifications of the screens”

“The fact that we are working closely with people who are over 11,000 miles away is not a problem, but with the four vessels coming and going on patrols and being simultaneously upgraded with all sorts of other equipment, not just screens, we are having to be patient and work to the customer’s requirements, which is what we do.” 

There will be 14 SOLASAFE® roller sunscreens installed at the navigation bridge windows of each vessel and when in use they will help to prevent discomfort and distractions from solar glare and UV light, enhancing significantly the crews working environment and acting as a very effective navigation safety aid. They will also reject over 60 percent of the heat that would otherwise be transmitted through the glass, creating obvious benefits for the personnel who work on the bridge.