Tuesday, March 25 2008

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INTernationaL CERTIFICATION: Workers at the Pt Lisas-based contracting firm, IWES, enjoy the honour of international certification granted for its off...

A manufacturing firm operating at the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate (PLIPDECO) has won international certification for its locally-built offshore containers from Norwegian-based Det Norske Veritas (DNV), one of the world’s leading maritime classification societies.

The local firm — Industrial Welding Equipment Sales & Rentals Limited (IWES) – is the first manufacturer of offshore containers from Trinidad and Tobago to be awarded the prestigious level of certification, says its Senior Project Manager, Larry Drakes.

Several types of offshore containers built by IWES earned Type Approval Certification, listing them as compliant with worldwide industry standards DNV 2-71, EN 12079, as well as IMO MSC Circular 860.

According to Drakes, “this development clearly shows that DNV and IWES have built up a high level of trust over the years, due mainly to the constant striving for high quality workmanship throughout the IWES organisation.”

Mervyn Waterman, IWES’ President, believes that the Type Approval Certification will open doors for ready acceptance of locally-made offshore containers in the global market and increase opportunities for growth of this local breakthrough industry.

Waterman said potential national benefits include greater local employment, transfer of foreign technology to nationals, a wider export market and greater earnings of foreign exchange, as well as worldwide recognition of TT as a producer of goods of international standard.

Offshore containers are used worldwide by the oil and gas sector for the safe transportation of cargo offshore and to protect the marine environment from pollution.

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is an autonomous independent risk management foundation whose Ship classification is a system for safeguarding life and property in the marine environment.