Global logistics specialist PSP has this week leant its expertise to an on-water adventurer who is hoping to complete a world first this summer.
The Hampshire-based company, sponsor of the PSP Southampton Boat Show, is transporting equipment for Niall Iain, who will attempt to row solo from New York to Stornoway at the end of May.
Only 10 people have successfully rowed solo from West to East across the North Atlantic (more people have walked on the moon) and no one has ever completed the route that he is undertaking.
It will take Niall, who is raising money for the Scottish Association for Mental Health, some three months to complete the risky mission and he has entrusted PSP with getting his precious rowing boat to the starting line.
PSP packed Niall’s 7.32m boat into a 40ft container at its warehouse in Fareham, where it was chocked in and lashed down to ensure minimal movement in transit. With the boat weighing around 300kgs, it took three forklifts working in tandem to lift the boat into the shipping container.
PSP, which specialises in transportation of all kinds of boats, from rowing boats and kayaks to Navy RIBs and superyachts, also loaded a packing crate into the container, with essential spares and enough freeze-dried food to see Niall through the entire challenge.
The container was delivered to ABP Port of Southampton, where it was loaded onto OOCL Kuala Lumpar. Yesterday (April 24) the vessel set sail for New York, where it will arrive on May 1.
Once stateside, PSP’s agents in the USA will arrange customs clearance and delivery to Liberty Landing Marina in New Jersey, where Niall will prepare for his departure.
Frank Dixie, managing director of PSP, said: “Having transported boats and equipment for on water races such as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, The Woodvale Challenge and America’s Cup, we know how important it is to get everything to the start line safely and on time. Any damage to the boat in transit or hold ups with customs could put the start date and entire challenge in jeopardy.
“However, we thrive on a challenge here at PSP and, using the experience we have built up over 40 years in the business, we ensured Niall’s boat and equipment had a safe send off to the States.”
Niall added: “Preparing for this challenge has taken years of meticulous planning and preparation. PSP really understood this and took so much care over the boat, it allowed me to relax and concentrate on the challenge itself, rather than the logistics of getting the equipment where it needed to be.”
