Hamworthy, a global designer and manufacturer of marine, onshore and offshore fluid handling systems, has acquired a 79 per cent stake in Poland-based Baltic Design Centre (BDC), a privately-owned ship design business, for a cash consideration of some £500,000.

Hamworthy, a global designer and manufacturer of marine, onshore and offshore fluid handling systems, has acquired a 79 per cent stake in Poland-based Baltic Design Centre (BDC), a privately-owned ship design business, for a cash consideration of some £500,000.

Baltic Design Centre, headquartered in Gdynia in Poland, is a ship design business providing concept, system and full ship design services to European shipyards for new builds and conversions.

BDC already provides sub-contract design services to Hamworthy.

Joe Oatley, chief executive of Hamworthy, said: “I am delighted to announce the addition of BDC to the group, which will increase the cost competitiveness of our gas systems business and augment the group’s wider design capabilities. Furthermore, the existing relationship with BDC will assist with efficient integration of the Company.”

For the year ended 31 December 2007, BDC reported turnover of approximately £0.4 million. The acquisition is immediately earnings enhancing.