NCC to be presented with lifesaving invention

An award-winning entrepreneur is donating a model of his new lifesaving invention to the National Composites Centre. ASAP Watercrafts inventor Ross Kemp is so pleased with the work done by the nation’s advanced composites technology development centre that he’s fitted out a full-scale display model from a second set of mouldings provided by the NCC. The NCC helped Ross meet the tight deadlines imposed for production of the first prototype when he was competing on the BBC 3 ‘Be your own Boss’ show.

Ross says he got the idea for the invention when he had to rebuild his strength after a car accident. Ross explains: “I was training as a lifeguard and while I was rescuing people I realised how difficult it was to move someone in the water. I looked into rescue equipment and found the current lifeguard tools are outdated and are often leisure equipment adapted for rescue.”

He continued, “The watercraft is lighter and smaller than a more traditional jet-ski, which needs two people to lift into the water. The light weight means the watercraft also requires less power to push through the water, and the battery for the electric drive can be charged in the sun all day.”

Kemp already has orders from South Africa and is due to travel to Australia in September with Richard Branson to promote the product.

NCC spokesperson Nigel Keen said, “The NCC actively seeks and supports UK innovators with ideas that utilise composites, to help turn their concepts into replicable prototypes. We provide a wide range of capability, from design, materials and manufacturing advice, right through to prototype production. We can work either on a simple contract basis or alongside the client’s team members, to transfer our composites expertise. The ASAP watercraft project was challenging because of the tight timescale, but NCC staff were delighted to be able to deliver a responsive and flexible service to Ross in support of his vision.”