In collaboration with a Korean engineering company, Kwang Lim Marine Tech, UMC International (UK) have successfully manufactured and delivered two full sets of neutrally buoyant hull aperture blanks to Samsung Heavy Industries (Korea). UMC started manufacturing Hull Aperture Blanks in the UK in the early 1980’s. The company recognised that there was potential to streamline the manufacture and delivery process to the Korean shipyards by setting up a manufacturing facility in that country.

In addition to the hull aperture blanks, a new device that was recently introduced by UMC International is the MAGNASEAL™. This device is suitable for blanking off smaller overboard discharges and eliminates the need for multiple supplies of various sized rubber plugs to be stored onboard. The MAGNASEAL™ is designed to fit all overboard discharges up to 110mm diameter. Since one size will fit many apertures, the amount of plugs has been reduced helping to contain costs, according to the company.