Unique Group, global leaders in subsea technologies and engineering, has proudly completed the manufacture and delivery of a 12-man Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat (SPHL) system to a European client. The handover marks a major milestone in the Group’s diving and life support portfolio, reinforcing the client’s trust in Unique Group’s proven expertise and global manufacturing capabilities.
The SPHL, built at Unique Group’s Cape Town facility, is part of a saturation diving system project. This project represents Unique Group’s first RINA-classed hyperbaric system and also the first SPHL built at its South African facility, underscoring a significant expansion in regional capability and technical know-how.
Fully certified under stringent international standards including RINA, DNV, ASME VIII Div-2, PVHO-1, and IMCA, the SPHL system can accommodate 12 occupants in a hyperbaric chamber and 4 boat-crew, offering a 72-hour autonomous life support capability. The system includes a purpose-built davit launch system, engineered for port or starboard deployment, making it highly adaptable for naval and commercial operations.
“This delivery marks a historic achievement for our Cape Town team, as we bring our world-class SPHL manufacturing capability to Africa for the first time. Our client’s continued confidence in Unique Group reflects our legacy in life support innovation. This project is a testament to our ability to deliver complex, class-approved systems anywhere in the world.” said Andrew Laing, Director: Creation – Diving & Life Support | BD – Africa at Unique Group.
The build leveraged deep collaboration between Unique Group’s South Africa and Netherlands teams, with cross-functional knowledge transfer and advanced 3D scanning used to create a digital twin of the lifeboat for future builds and lifecycle support.
The build was finalized after successful factory acceptance testing at Unique Cape Town and sea trials in Cape Town harbour, witnessed by the client, RINA and DNV surveyors, affirming full class compliance. The project has already led to a follow-up order from the client for an additional SPHL unit, scheduled for delivery in 2026.
With this achievement, Unique Group reinforces its position as a leader in commercial diving and life support systems, with a portfolio that includes the highest number of SPHLs manufactured globally, and a continued focus on advancing life support safety in the diving industry.
