Babcock Partners with HM Coastguard to Fly the Flag at Pride 2018

Babcock International Group (Babcock) is transforming search and rescue vehicles for HM Coastguard into Pride patrol cars for the first time to mark the Brighton Pride event next weekend on 3-5 August.

HM Coastguard has been working in partnership with Babcock’s Vehicle Engineering (VE) business for over 20 years but was approached this year to help create a conversion of a different kind.

A Nissan Navara, which is used in search and rescue, was delivered to HM Coastguard earlier this month displaying the Pride in Babcock logo and colourful rainbow livery. Staff there took such a shine to the newly ‘converted’ car that another is on the way and there are plans to use it at parades nationwide post Brighton.

Babcock, which is one of Europe’s leading specialist vehicle converters, equips the Navara with blue light equipment such as radios and public warning systems. Richard Semmens, Managing Director of VE said they worked with the customer to develop the right livery and branding to give them a good show for the event.

“Our partnership spans more than 20 years and we were recently asked to convert a number of specialist all-terrain vehicles for the customer. These have been used in various search and rescue missions, including the recent national emergency services response to tackle the Moorland fires.

“This time it’s what’s on the outside of the vehicle that counts. We’ve worked with HM Coastguard to come up with a brand new design incorporating the Pride in Babcock logo which demonstrates our commitment to supporting Pride and also deliver something that we hope will really stand out at the parade next weekend.”

Chris Thomas, Deputy Director for Maritime Operations said: “We are extremely grateful to Babcock for creating our new Pride livery on the vehicles at no cost to HM Coastguard.  Our involvement at Pride says this is who we are – an inclusive workforce that actively supports and promotes diversity and an organisation that wants everyone to be proud and feel safe in saying who they are.”

For more information on all the Pride events visit https://www.brighton-pride.org/pride-festival/

HM Coastguard helps to fight Winter Hill fires with Babcock converted ATVs

Two specialist all terrain HM Coastguard assets which had been recently converted for Personnel & Equipment Transport and Search & Rescue by Vehicle Engineering were made ready for immediate despatch last week. The request from HM Coastguard management came following an urgent requirement for off road capable vehicles to support firefighters from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in containing the major moorland fires on Winter Hill near Manchester. As part of the firefighting efforts HM Coastguard Rescue Service personnel were on scene for a total of seven full days, including a duty Coastguard Incident Commander and for the most part, two specialist all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Martin Leslie, Deputy Head of Coastal Resources, thanked Babcock for their timely action in making the vehicles ready, and explained the importance of their role; “The ATVs were a positive asset to proactively fight the fire in sectors that were worst effected and unable to be reached by fire engine and timely on foot. The ATVs were specially equipped with a 150 litre water tank and a pressure washer to proactively mist any effected ground, often on fire.”

Babcock Vehicle Engineering has been proudly supplying vehicle conversions to HM Coastguard for more than twenty years, as well as providing through-life support, mid-life refurbishment and end-of-life decommissioning.

Thank you to HM Coastguard for their kind permission to reproduce this image.