An award-winning lifeboat proved the credentials of it’s creator after the crew sailed a rough North Sea to thank the system designers.

The chief executive officer of KNRM- the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, Roemer Boorgaard sailed from Rotterdam to Heybridge show gratitude to designer Stafford Williams, who worked on the Nh1816 Lifeboat, the most advanced all-weather, self-righting search and rescue boat in the world.

Head of Research and Design Mr Williams works at Servowatch Systems, Heybridge, which supplies ship control systems.

He was presented with a “Statue of the Bronze Rescuer” for his specialist work.