Solar Solve Marine of South Shields, UK, recently supplied another two shipsets of their SOLASOLV roller sunscreens to the US Military Sealift Command.
The screens have been installed in two more of the Lewis and Clark-class underway replenishment ships that are traditionally named to honour legendary US pioneers and explorers.
The USNS 'Wally Schirra' was built at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, California and is dedicated to the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut and former Navy test pilot who served in both World War II and the Korean War.
It is a 210-metre cargo ship designed to provide up to 10,000 tonnes of ammunition, food, fuel and supplies to other vessels in the fleet and allied ships at sea. Delivered in September of this year, it was christened by Mr Schirra's widow Josephine at a naming ceremony in March.
USNS 'Wally Schirra' is the eighth vessel in a series of 14. The seventh – USNS 'Carl Brashear' – was delivered in February of this year and named in honour of Master Chief Boatswain's Mate (Master Diver) Carl M. Brashear who served in the US Navy for 31 years. It too was fitted out with SOLASOLV roller screens at the wheelhouse windows to reject the glare, heat and UV light from the sun, creating a safer and more comfortable working environment for the ships crew.
"It is always good to get this kind of high profile work. Having been awarded an initial contract some time ago from the US Navy we continue to impress them with the quality of our products and service," Solar Solve Marine Chairman John Lightfoot said.
