Glamox, a global leader in lighting, has completed a project to supply its advanced Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (HVLAS) to HMS Forth, a UK Royal Navy Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV). This represents the third Batch 2 OPV to be equipped with the system that enhances the vessel's ability to land helicopters on a moving deck in challenging weather conditions at night.

HMS Forth joins HMS Trent and HMS Spey to have the mission-enhancing technology, which was installed by Glamox’s customer, du Pré Marine, earlier this quarter at the UK Docks Marine Services facility in Middlesbrough.

“The installation of the system was completed by our team within eight weeks. This will be followed by several weeks of acceptance trials at sea, which will involve daytime and night-time helicopter approaches and landings,” said Toby du Pré, Managing Director of du Pré Marine. The company specialises in providing and installing marine navigation, security and safety equipment.

“From the initial concept discussion to the installation on three vessels took approximately 14 months. It would not have been possible without the support of Glamox and the proactive, can-do attitude of the Naval Ship Support team working for the UK Ministry of Defence,” added du Pré.

COMPLETE FLIGHT DECK LED LIGHTING SYSTEM
The Glamox HVLAS is a complete flight deck LED lighting system that provides pilots with visual cues and information during approach and landing. It includes a stabilised horizon bar that indicates the horizon's position, regardless of the vessel's roll and pitch. A glide path indicator also helps pilots judge approach angles using a three-colour light beam to show the correct path and whether the helicopter is too high or too low. Additional deck-edge lighting and focused LED beam lines provide precise positional cues for pilots operating in low-visibility conditions or using night vision goggles. Glamox also supplied both vessels with military-grade Night Vision Imaging System navigation lights.

“Lighting is an important component to any navy vessel as it helps to improve operational performance and safety. Our HVLAS technology enables the Royal Navy to land its helicopters on the flight deck at night and in harsh weather conditions,” said Tommy Stranden, the Chief Sales and Commercial Officer of Glamox’s Marine, Offshore & Wind division. “Our advanced lighting system also allows the Royal Navy to land helicopters from partner nations. We recently celebrated the first-ever night landing of a foreign partner helicopter on HMS Trent, the first to be fitted with this technology. It was a US Coast Guard helicopter off the coast of Miami, Florida.”

PROUD TO HAVE COMPLETED A THIRD PROJECT
Stephen Lee, Director of Operations at UK Docks Marine Services North, said: “Following the successful delivery of the HVLAS system across two other Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessels, we are proud to have completed a third project on HMS Forth at our Teesside facility, delivered ahead of schedule.

“This achievement reinforces UK Docks’ position as a trusted and capable industrial partner to Defence, while also demonstrating our ability to adapt and deliver, with HMS Forth representing the first Batch 2 River Class OPV to undergo maintenance at our Teesside yard. “Working with specialist partners is key to our success. In this instance, du Pré Marine and Glamox supported UK Docks in delivering the vessel’s flight deck LED lighting system, further enhancing the operational capability of the Royal Navy’s OPV fleet.”