Cetus Powercraft Ltd to manufacture UK builder’s high-performance sportsboats and RIBs

A new company has formed in the UK to develop and manufacture the Ring Powercraft range of high-performance sportsboats and RIBs. Cetus Powercraft Ltd, which was incorporated in November 2017, is planning new products in the leisure, commercial and defence sectors.

Ring Powercraft has been building high-performance offshore powerboats and RIBs for over 50 years. The company’s headquarters, at Chichester Harbour Marine Park in West Sussex, boast a 13,000sq ft state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with launch access onto the Chichester Channel.

Designer and ex-racer Mike Ring, who has been building boats with wife and business partner Liz since 1968, joins the company as Head of Innovation and Design and will lead product development.

Martin Blench, following a 34-year engineering career in the Royal Navy, will manage all Production Process and Quality Assurance aspects of the business. The operation will be supported by regulatory certifications including ISO, RCD, Lloyds Register, SOLAS and Cyber Essentials.

“It is an honour to be leading this initiative with such a revered brand and renowned team,” says David Jackson, CEO and founder of Cetus Powercraft. “Mike has built an outstanding reputation over the past 50 years for ground-breaking high-performance hulls, with exceptional manoeuvrability and rough water handling, that have resulted in numerous racing accolades and speed records. It is our objective to build on this success by maintaining the high-speed DNA of the Ring product.”

“We have a robust management team and infrastructure which will facilitate an extensive expansion strategy and best-in-class customer service. We will provide a blend of bespoke and off-the-shelf products to deliver optimal and creative solutions to our clients, whilst also building strong and strategic relationships with our partners and suppliers.”

Jackson says that introducing new products, concepts and materials will be a key focus for the company going forward. “There are a number of exciting opportunities scoped out with us having the luxury of being able to utilise propulsion systems from the world’s leading manufacturers,” he says, adding that the company aims to be at the forefront of new green technologies.