Portsmouth based composites experts, Magma Structures have been awarded the prestigious Maritime Innovation Award presented by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects in association with QinetiQ. The award was presented to Magma Structures’ Managing Director Clive Johnson at the annual RINA Awards Dinner at the Lancaster Hotel, London.
T
he Maritime Innovation award was presented to Magma Structures in recognition of its innovative work on the engineering, design and manufacture of the world’s three tallest carbon free-standing composite masts built for the Sailing Superyacht ‘A’. The masts, which took over four years to design, test, and build were constructed at Magma Structures waterside manufacturing premises in Portsmouth in the UK.
The annual RINA award recognises maritime innovation that offers the potential to make a significant improvement in the design, construction and operation of marine vessels and structures. In an industry which is highly dependent on technology, innovation is considered by RINA to be key to success in all sectors of the maritime industry.
Magma Structures won the award for the recent completion of the three composite rigs for Sailing Superyacht ‘A’, which are amongst the most technically challenging free-standing carbon composite structures to have been manufactured to date. At over 90m, they are the world’s tallest carbon composite masts. The rigs are designed to withstand bending loads of more than twice the load on a Boeing Dreamliner wing. Each mast is able to rotate using systems mounted on ‘wings’ at the side of each mast, adding to both the design complexity and the build challenge. The masts support a sail area greater than a standard sized football pitch.
Clive Johnson, Managing Director of Magma Structures commented, “We are delighted to have been awarded the RINA – QinetiQ Maritime Innovation Award. This is a fantastic accolade for the whole team at Magma Structures who for the past four years have been involved in the engineering design, manufacture and installation of these incredible composite masts. To have our achievements in terms of innovation recognised by such a prestigious professional body is a real boost for the team.”
“Magma Structures are most worthy winners of the 2015 Maritime Innovation Award” said Trevor Blakeley, Chief Executive of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. “The Award recognises the dedication, professional skills and innovative thinking of the members of the Magma Structures team. They can rightly be proud of both their achievement and the Award.”
