New 10,000 Sq. Ft. Facility Boosts Safety Equipment Servicing Capability

The internationally-renowned safety technology provider, Survitec, has significantly expanded its UK service operations with the inauguration of a comprehensive service centre in the Port of Southampton.

This facility is purposefully designed and fitted out to perform specialised servicing and repairs for life-rafts, lifejackets, immersion suits, and a host of other safety equipment. The large-scale expansion is set to provide increased capacity and expedited servicing times for an array of clients including those in the cruise, defence, Border Force, and commercial shipping sectors.

Optimised positioning for enhanced customer service

Survitec’s Operations Manager, Iain Allan, based in Southampton, has pointed out the strategic positioning of the new centre, stating that it will enable “swift access in and out of the docks” and thus, ensure an improved level of service to ships. He said that “many months” were spent in the search and fitting out of this “right facility in Southampton”, which is expected to “service more than 2,000 life-rafts a year” with potential for further expansion.

Upgrades and expansion

As a result of its major expansion, Survitec has not reduced its servicing turnaround time by up to 50%, and increased its workforce by 20% to accommodate the requirements of the new Service Centre. The Southampton facility is well-equipped with a 3,000-litre water tank for testing life-rafts and rescue boats, a special area dedicated to lifejacket servicing and repair, and a unique platform to accommodate large life-rafts.

Survitec’s Managing Director, UK Marine, Ronnie Vettese, has highlighted the benefits of the centre’s location in facilitating better management of their offerings to support regional customers. Looking forward, he mentioned that the new facility will “enable us to expand upon our customer offering” by introducing services related to fire, lifeboat, and mooring equipment.

Launch ahead of major marine exhibition

The latest addition to Survitec’s service centres was strategically launched this week, coinciding with Seawork, Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition, held in Southampton.

This strategic move further cements Survitec’s position as a global leader in the supply, inspection, testing, servicing, and repair of safety and survival equipment. The company’s extensive global presence spans over 400 service centres, covering 2,000 ports worldwide.