Latest News

Braemar Howells Commences Support to Maersk Oil Angola - November 2008

On December the 1st, 2008, Braemar Howells enters into a 3 year agreement with Maersk Oil Angola, to support their Deep Water Exploration activities in Blocks 8,16 and 23.

Braemar Howells signs Hazmat Response Agreement with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service - November 2008

Braemar Howells today signed an innovative agreement to provide Hazmat Response Support to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on a 12 month pilot basis.

Under the new agreement, Braemar Howells will base one its new Hazmat Response Vehicles at Merseyside's Brombough Fire Station.

Braemar Howells Exhibits at the 2008 Emergency Services Show - November 2008

Braemar Howells attended the 2008 Emergency Services Show held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on the 19th and 20th of November.

Hosting a stand in the main exhibition with the National Chemical Emergency Centre, the company also demonstrated one of its Hazmat Response Units in the outdoor demonstration area.

New Angolan Response Base and Team Leader - November 2008

Braemar Howells commitment in the West African Country of Angola strengthened this month with a move to a new response base and appointment of a new Country Team Leader.

Braemar Howells Response Team mobilises to Gibraltar - October 2008

Saturday the 11^th October saw some of the worst weather experienced in Gibraltar in living memory. As a result of the weather, the Bulk Carrier, Fedra, got into difficulties and eventually floundered off of Europa Point in Gibraltar. Although unladen with cargo, the vessel had onboard a quantity of bunker fuel and posed an environmental threat to the small territory of Gibraltar.

Braemar Howells to attend Emergency Services Show - October 2008

Braemar Howells will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Emergency Services Show being held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 19th an 20th November.

Braemar Howells welcomes new Port and Offshore Response Manager -September 2008

Braemar Howells welcomes Jeff Ross as its new Port and Offshore Response Manager. Jeff joins the company after many years woking in the marine, chemical and oil spill response industries and brings with him considerable expertise and experience. Recognised as one of the most experienced people in the strategy of Offshore Containment and Recovery in the UK, Jeff is also an accomplished trainer and emergency planner.

MCA and IMO Training, Northern and Southern Ireland - September 2008

September was to prove a busy month for the Braemar Howells Training Team. Four courses were conducted over the Irish Sea, resulting in over 50 delegates recieving training from the team.

New Forensic Science Services Manager joins Braemar Howells - September 2008

Braemar Howells welcomes Hilary Brown to the team as our new Forensic Services Manager. Tasked with developing the new Forensic Response Services, Hilary brings with her a considerable pedigree in the field of Hazardous Materials Response, Fire and Accident Investigation. Holding Masters Degrees in Chemistry and also in Fire and Explosion Engineering, Hilary is also a Chartered Chemist and Chartered Scientist and is also a certified Fire Investigator.

Gatwick Response Base Expansion - September 2008

September 2008 saw the expansion of the Braemar Howells Gatwick Response Base. By taking over the neighbouring unit, the facility doubled in size in order to accommodate both the existing incident response services and the new forensic science services, headed by Hilary Brown.

Braemar Howells Hazardous and Noxious Substance Response Course - Stansted - August 2008

Following the success of the Braemar Howells HNS Responders courses that have been held at the MPSC in Milford Haven, the latest course was trialled at the Stansted Response Base. Attended by 8 Responders, the course proved very successful, with a mixture of both theoretical and practical aspects.

DV Howells celebrates 60 years with name change

DV Howells celebrated its 60th anniversary as the oldest oil spill response company by announcing its name change to Braemar Howells to reflect its part in the Braemar Shipping Services Group plc

DV Howells Ltd 40 hour Marine Hazmat Course

DVH's second 40 hour Marine Hazmat course got off to a cracking start in Milford Haven in February.

DV Howells Ltd - New Chemical Response Vehicle Deliveries

One of DV Howells Ltd's new dedicated chemical incident response vehicles. These new vehicles are based in Bristol, Stansted and Huddersfield replacing the Sprinter vehicles.

Katie Hannan - Update

Katie Hannan - 15th February the "Katie Hannan" was successfully recovered off the rocks at Rathlin Island, then floated into the hold of the 'Terra Marique' this specialist vessel was sourced by DV Howells for this operation. The Terra Marique subsequently undertook the sea passage to Plymouth and off loaded the "Katie Hannan" on 20th February. The process to recover "Katie Hannan" has been long and complicated and thanks were extended to everyone involved in the recovery operation.

DV Howells Response Team mobilised to the 'Katie Hannan'

DV Howells response personnel from the Perth base and the Marine Pollution Salvage Centre (MPSC), Milford Haven have been called to assist in the operation to the salvage the vessel "Katie Hannan" which stranded on rocks at Rathlin Island. The vessel got in to difficulty whilst involved in the rescue of three people whose boat was in danger, they, together with the crew of the "Katie Hannan" were safely taken ashore by the Rathlin Island Coastguard Crew.

'Riverdance' Stand By

DV Howells response personnel have been placed on standby to assist in the salvage operationof the RoRo ferry "Riverdance" which got in to difficulties in bad weather in the the Irish Sea on 31st January and subsequently gone aground off Blackpool. The vessel was on passage from Warren Point to Heysham, all crew and passengers were safely rescued.

DV Howells Mobilises to Hazardous Waste around West Wales Coast

DV Howells response teams responded to a call from the Environment Agency to assist with the clean up of unidentified hazardous material of clear liquid in plastic bags washing up on beaches in the Pembrey and Rhossili area in West Wales.

Portland Response Base Established

Following deployment of DV Howells Counter Pollution Response Units and shore side clean up resulting from the beaching of the stricken container vessel MSC Napoli, DV Howells has established a Response Base in Portland

Senior DV Howells Consultants short term secondment to Turkey

Two Senior DV Howells (DVH) Consultants have joined the Turkish General Directorate of Coastal Safety on a short term secondment to provide Crisis Management coaching and support services.

MSC Napoli - DV Howells Limited, Industrial Services Division

Following the strategic decision to beach the stricken 53409gt container vessel MSC Napoli in Lyme Bay off the Devon Coast on January 19th 2007, the ensuing salvage and clean up operations associated with the wreck has been ongoing. The last of the 2199 containers was removed from the wreck on May 17th 2007, and landed at the Coal Jetty in Portland Harbour.

MSC Napoli - Maritime Coastguard Agency mobilisation

It was on January 19th 2007, when Britain's Secretary of State for Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) made the decision to beach the badly damaged 53409gt container ship rather than risk a longer tow to Portland.

South Yorkshire Floods

Following severe flooding in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas, South Yorkshire Emergency Services mobilised DV Howells response units to assist in the emergency. The Company's work at the Ulley Reservoir, nr Rotherham, where 2 x 600 tonnes per hour pumps were used to assist the fire and rescue services in reducing the rising water levels which threatened the integrity of the reservoir's dam, thus preventing localised flooding, including a section of the nearby M1 Motorway.