Praise for ‘herculean’ marine firms’ support
Collaborative work across the region providing NHS with vital equipment
MARINE firms have been praised for their ‘herculean’ efforts in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maritime UK Solent, a business-led body championing the sector and established by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, said incredible work had gone on to help the NHS.
Kevin George, chair of the group, said: ‘We are delighted and so proud of what’s been achieved by such a committed group of Solent region residents and the businesses which contributed.
‘We hope the great collaborative work carried out across the region and beyond will benefit the Solent’s maritime businesses in the future.’
He added: ‘We really want to take this opportunity to thank Sanders Sails which worked tirelessly to provide personal protective equipment for so many different organisations in the Solent region, including University Hospital Southampton.’
Sanders Sails, established in 1974 producing sails, switched to making protective bags and face visors for NHS front-line workers.
This quickly developed into making scrubs and gowns.
Peter Sanders, managing director of Sanders Sails based in Lymington, said he brought in engineer Emma
McEwan who altered and digitisted the pattern.
Hospitals used 5,000 gowns a week and needed more.
Firms involved included AC Marine and Composites in Gosport, Batt Sails in Bosham, and Dimension Polyant in Fareham.
Emma said: ‘Pete and I quickly realised that if we could find suitable companies willing to cut kits for us on their cutting tables, this would be the only way we could produce the volumes needed by the hospital as they were using 5,000 gowns a week.’