British Marine Technology (BMT) has signed a cooperation agreement with M.D.A. Marine Design Associates of Victoria (BC, Canada), to provide marine services in Western Canada. The agreement will involve two BMT subsidiary companies, BMT Fleet Technology in Canada and The Salvage Association, who will operate from MDA’s offices in Victoria. MDA is a marine consultancy company providing naval architectural, marine engineering and marine surveying services to the marine community in North America, Asia and Africa.

BMT Fleet Technology President Ian Glen said: ‘The association will permit BMT to make a relatively low risk expansion onto Canada’s West Coast with extension to the Pacific rim, through an established organisation with a good customer base. It will initially be one of business development, but as soon as new work starts to flow BMT will increase its cooperation and make resources available. We have the tools to carry out concept designs, trade- off studies and to explore technical advances and make the business case for them. We have the skills to write specifications, to assist the owner to make the right procurement choices, and in this respect the experience of the MDA staff will be of great assistance.’

MDA’s Vice-President David Smiley said: ‘The relationship will bring depth, resources and technology to MDA as well as providing a wider market for some of MDA’s technology niches such as the duel fuel propulsion and small ferry designs. MDA’s design experience, and contacts in the shipping industry, will be of great value to the new working relationship.’MDA’s services include the design of small to medium sized vehicle/passenger ferries, the conversion design by lengthening/widening of cargo/passenger/vehicle ferries, fish boats and cargo landing craft.