Marine Ventures (Berks, England) announced availability of a pipe coupling device that greatly simplifies joining and repairing onboard pipework. The Straub Pipe Couplings simplify joining/repairing of pipework to a fraction of the time and manpower normally associated with conventional welding or flanging pipe ends together. It is based on a sleeve technology as opposed to welding or flanging.

The STRAUB pipe technology has been approved by the major classification societies, resulting in general and growing acceptance by most U.K. shipbuilders and ship repairers for pipework on ships being built or repaired. The company claims that substantial productivity benefits can be achieved in time, labour, and cost in installing, repairing, and maintaining pipework on ships.