We are delighted to announce that Solent Rib Charter, parent company to Commercial Rib Charter, has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category – one of the most prestigious recognitions for UK businesses.
This achievement celebrates the pioneering design, launch and operation of ‘CRC Walrus’, our 13m amphibious crew transfer vessel. CRC Walrus, built by Diverse Marine in Cowes, was designed to tackle one of the industry’s toughest challenges – accessing wind turbines in shallow, drying and shifting seabeds.
Unlike traditional crew transfer vessels, CRC Walrus seamlessly transitions from sea to land using its three deployable wheels. Capable of 24 knots at sea or 4 knots on land, CRC Walrus is coded for 10 persons with a payload of 1,000kg.
Launched in February 2023, CRC Walrus was first deployed to the Scroby Sands Wind Farm – a contract that has since been extended to an impressive 5.5 years. The success of CRC Walrus has also opened the door to further investment in our amphibious capability, with the acquisition of three Sealegs Amphibious Ribs.
To have received a King’s Award is not just a tremendous honour, it is a testament to the hard work and expertise that went into bringing this concept to life. We would like to thank our clients, partners and team who have been part of this journey and made it all possible.
