Marine safety specialist Survival Craft Inspectorate (SCI) said yesterday it was to open two offices in North America as part of plans to target the cruise-ship market.
The firm, based at Findon, in Aberdeenshire, has until now focused mainly on making and selling safety craft and support systems for ships and oil and gas-sector installations.
Its diversification into a new area comes after it acquired the selling rights to a product, RocLoc, from Newfoundland-based Mad Rock Marine Solutions. The patented RocLoc system is a lifeboat-release mechanism that is already widely used in the cruise-ship industry.
SCI employs 90 people at Findon and a further 50 at offices in Great Yarmouth, Malaysia, Singapore, Western Australia, Norway and Houston in the US.
The new offices opening next month in Fort Lauderdale, in Florida, and St John’s, in Newfoundland, Canada, will create 10 jobs.
The company expects its new product and North American expansion to add £10million to its turnover – currently £15million a year- over three years.
Managing director Angus Campbell said: “The acquisition of the RocLoc release system, coupled with Safelaunch (SCI’s existing lifeboat-release mechanism) further enhances our recognised position as a market leader.
“The addition of RocLoc . . . gives us broader access to the cruise-ship market, not only in terms of sales of a product with a track record but also in the installation and maintenance of these systems. The expansion of the business in North America, the addition of RocLoc and further investment in safety solutions continues to move the company forward.”
Mr Campbell said future expansion of the firm could come from further acquisitions plus organic growth.
SCI will be exhibiting at the Cruise Shipping Miami conference from March 12 to 15.