11 Nov 2016
Colombian and International delegates have demonstration of UK’s River Outreach Healthcare Capabilities
During the formal State Visit in early November 2016, Colombian Government officials were hosted by UK Department of International Trade and Healthcare UK at a Latin America Healthcare showcase at HMS President’s shore establishment near Tower Bridge.
BISEN consortium members demonstrated their concept for deploying healthcare into remote regions where there is a need for the rehabilitation and reintegration of communities affected by conflict or natural disaster; for example, healthcare and security in Colombia’s post conflict period. Griffon Hoverwork, Hawki, Planet3Energy, LCM-IFC, Polmil, Windhorse, Inmarsat, Drumgrange and Aspen Medical were some of the companies demonstrating their capabilities which have been proven in use for healthcare delivery to remote communities.
Griffon’s new 995ED hybrid hovercraft had its first showing at the event. The hovercraft is part of a capability package and was fitted with the Clearwater vessel management and tracking system. A demonstration was held outside where delegates including Rt Hon Greg Hands MP Minister of State for International Trade, Luis Andrade President of the Colombian National Infrastructure Agency, Deborah Kobewka Managing Director of Healthcare UK and Sam Brookes Chairman of Trustees of the UK Charity Hoveraid had the chance to experience the new technologies in both the craft and in the role fit medical configurations.
The new 995ED has two crew seats and a reconfigurable load area for 995Kg of payload or a combination of 6 passenger seats or two stretchers plus medical attendants or cargo. With its new generation electric motors, side decks and manufacturing processes, it is significantly quieter, cheaper to operate, easier to transport and simpler to maintain than any other hovercraft in its payload class.