Safety and security provider Solas Marine Services Group has spread its wings beyond the UAE, the Gulf and the region from its original Sharjah base.

The company specialises in supplying and servicing life saving equipment such as life rafts, lifeboats and rescue boats and designing, supplying, installing, testing, commissioning and maintaining portable and fixed fire fighting systems.
The company also supplies fire alarms, gas alarms and safety protection systems suitable for use in offshore drilling units, supply vessels and testing vessels.
It services breathing apparatus, escape sets and medical oxygen resuscitators while also installing and maintaining breathing air cascade systems.
The company specialises in turnkey solutions, project management and time-bound projects. Solas started operations in Sharjah 1988 and now has its head office in Al Jadaf, Dubai. Its workshop and servicing facility, Solas Safety Equipment Establish-ment, is located in Dubai Investment Park and has a total area of 15,932 sq m. The complex includes an area for  receiving and stocking customer equipment, a servicing area, a material handling, quality control and inspection area, stores, a delivery and shipment area and offices. All lifeboat servicing operations are carried out in the Sharjah yard.
A venture approved by Civil Defence and named Solas Safety and Fire Protection Services Company LLC is situated in Dubai Investment Park.
In addition, the group has a warehouse cum office in Fujairah with storage of 5,500 sq ft and another representative office in Abu Dhabi.
The group’s overseas operations include a branch in Oman which has been awarded a contract from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and another branch in Bahrain which has started servicing and repairing of lifeboats and liferafts. There is one representative office in India and a service facility in Saudi Arabia.
The total workforce in all the group’s establishments is 200. It stresses that all employees are well-qualified and placed according to a skills assessment. Thirty of the staff are placed at the head office and work in various departments. Around 80 personnel work in service stations, workshops and offshore. These include engineers and technicians. Solas Safety and Fire Protection Services Company has a staff of 20 and recruitment of additional personnel is ongoing.
Solas Marine obtained its ISO 9002:1994 certification in 1998, subsequently including all its branch offices into the certification and receiving approvals of the updated standards OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001.
The group has been approved by the UAE Ministry of Communications, the United States Coast Guard and all major classification societies such as ABS, DNV, Lloyds, Class NKK, Korean Register, IRS, BV, GL and Russian Maritime Register.
Solas services are executed by OEM-trained technicians backed by equipment from Bauer, BA, HTP, Fritz EMDE Germany, Vulcan, Corodo Corneo and Shammal, among other manufacturers.
Solas is authorised to service inflatable life rafts manufactured by the following companies: Bombard, France; Fujikura, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo and RFD Toyo (all from Japan), Pirelli, Italy; RFD Elliot and Seaco Elliot (both USA), Uzemik-NCH, Russia;Youlong, China, and  Zodiac, North America, as well as Samgong, Survitec, Godrich, CJ Elliot, Crewsaver, Dunlop Beaufort, Eurovinil and Switlik,
Solas is an authorised agent for the following lifeboats with capability to repair them: Acebi, France; Beihai, China; Davit International, Fassmer and Hatecke Service (all Germany), Hai Hong, Hong Kong; Hyundai and Oriental Inspection and Service Company, (both Korea), Norsafe, Norway; Umoe Schat Hading, Norway, and Japan Ship Machinery, Japan.
The group has won big-time customers in various categories.
Among drilling companies, customers  include Maersk Jupiter Drilling and PT Apexindo (both UAE); Arabian Drilling and Pool Arabia (both Saudi Arabia); Noble Drilling (Qatar);  Fore Sight Drilling, Cyprus; Marine Drilling, Nabors Drilling, Sana Fe Drilling and Trans Ocean (all US), Saipam Spa, Italy, Triton Drilling and Far East Marine Company. 
Customers in oil companies include Adnoc, ADPPOC (Irshaad) (both Abu Dhabi); Dragon Oil (Dubai), PDO (Oman), Saudi Aramco (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia) and South Oil Company (Iraq).
Solas has also been commissioned by the following offshore construction and services firms: Al Mansoori Production Services, National Marine Services and National Petroleum Construction Company (all Abu Dhabi); Asaker Marine and Shipping Agency and Mohammed Al Mojil, (both Ajman); ATCO Contracting, Al Khobar; Doha Marine Services and Qatar National Navigation & Transport Co (both Qatar) and  Iranian Offshore & Engineering Construction Company, Iran, as well as Gulmar Offshore Middle East; Hyundai Industries, J Ray McDermott; Lamlanco and Valentine Marine.
Drydocks and ship repair companies that have placed orders with Solas Marine are: Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Al Bawardy Engineering, Grand Weld, Dubai; Dubai Dry Docks, Dubai Shipbuilding Company and Lamprell (all UAE) and  ABG-India. Solas has had a number of customers from among tanker and crude oil carriers. These include: Anengel Shipping Enterprises SA; Anthony Giavridis Maritime Inc; Centrofin Management Inc; Chartworld Shipping Cooperation; Chios Navigation, London; Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd; FAL Shipping Co, Sharjah; Franser Shipping S.A; Kristen Navigation Inc; KOTC, Kuwait; Lykiardopoulo & Co, London  (Or Neda Maritime, Greece); Mare International; NITC, Tehran/ Sharjah; Shell Tankers; Stathatos & Co Ltd; Vela International, Saudi Arabia.
Clients from other key companies include: United Arab Shipping Company, Kuwait; Port Services of Oman; Dubai Ports Authority and Mideast Ship Management Ltd.