Forth and Tay members
First Principle Design Ltd
Business type: Engineering
Contact: Ross Cowie, Director
Address: Unit 12 Haddington Retail Park, Haddington EH413FW
Email:
Countries worked in: United Kingdom
First Principle Design Ltd (FirstPD) is an engineering design and project management company with experience in industries such as nuclear, renewables, oil and gas, and SAT diving. The company’s capabilities include rotating equipment and hoist system design, offshore structures and access platforms, project Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, accident investigations, and design reviews and approvals.
FirstPD also supports large-scale projects by providing specialised expertise on a seconded basis, helping clients address complex challenges or meet specific requirements over a defined period. The company’s work involves optimising designs for safety, performance, and manufacturability, while collaborating with manufacturing partners to ensure precision and compliance with industry standards.
Past projects demonstrate a broad scope of work, ranging from bespoke equipment design to delivering large integrated system design and manufacture projects for customers. FirstPD takes a collaborative approach to ensure its solutions align with clients’ needs, timelines, and operational goals.
The business has established a reputation for reliability and technical expertise, working with repeat customers and contributing to projects across various engineering sectors.
Capabilities
Established supplier with significant experience supplying the sector
- Pre-Construction Development Phase (DEVEX): Front End Engineering & Design Studies
- DEVEX - Project Management & QA Services: Project Management & Programme Management
- CAPEX - Turbine Services: Shoreside Engineering Services
- CAPEX - Balance of Plant - Manufacture / Supply Services: Structure & facilities including foundation, helipad, platform access, crane, control room, accommodation, navigation aids & safety systems
- CAPEX - Balance of Plant - Manufacture / Supply Services: Offshore Equipment Services
- CAPEX - Balance of Plant - Manufacture / Supply Services: Offshore Labour Services
- OPEX - Operations & Maintenance: Lifting, climbing & safety equipment & inspections
Good capacity and some experience in supplying the sector
- Pre-Construction Development Phase (DEVEX): Human Impact Studies
- DEVEX - Project Management & QA Services: QA Management & Document Control
Capabilities to supply, but no/limited experience in the sector
- Decommissioning: Documentation
- Decommissioning: Decommissioning
Ambitions to diversify in the sector
- CAPEX - Balance of Plant - Manufacture / Supply Services: Vessels or Vessel Equipment Provision
- OPEX - Operations & Maintenance: Marine Operations
- OPEX - Operations & Maintenance: Wind turbine blade access, Inspection & Repair
- OPEX - Operations & Maintenance: Scour & Structural Surveys & Repairs
Other services offered
- Accident investigation.
Case studies
OSBIT approached FirstPD to design a vessel deck interface grillage for an access gangway, enabling safe and efficient personnel transfer from the deck of a new-build jack-up vessel to wind turbine pedestals. This project was part of the vessel’s preparation for offshore wind farm installation and maintenance operations. The grillage needed to accommodate significant structural loads, interface precisely with the gangway system, and meet stringent safety and operational standards for the offshore environment.
Contract type: Fixed-price design contract
Value: £18,000
FirstPD was responsible for designing the deck interface grillage to support an advanced gangway system. Our team performed structural analyses to ensure the grillage could handle the operational loads while minimising vessel deck deflection. The design was optimised to meet OSBIT’s specifications, including precise bolt group interfaces, material selection for durability, and compliance with offshore safety standards. We collaborated closely with OSBIT to integrate the grillage seamlessly into the vessel’s layout, delivering detailed manufacturing drawings and providing ongoing technical support during fabrication and installation.
FirstPD was contracted by Royal IHC to design bespoke hoist systems for a cable lay vessel under construction. The project required winches and handling equipment tailored for offshore cable installation and maintenance, meeting stringent operational requirements. Our designs focused on safety, efficiency, and reliability in challenging marine environments. Beyond design, FirstPD also oversaw commissioning, ensuring seamless integration with the vessel’s systems and compliance with relevant industry standards. This collaboration supported Royal IHC’s delivery of an advanced vessel equipped for efficient and reliable offshore operations.
Contract type: Time and Materials
Value: £300,000
FirstPD designed and delivered advanced hoist systems for new-build cable lay vessels, supporting complex installation and maintenance operations. Our scope of work included design calculations, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), specification development, supplier oversight, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) participation, on-site system integration, and offshore commissioning. Each component was carefully engineered to meet operational demands and industry standards. Collaboration with Royal IHC was integral to the success of the project, ensuring alignment between the vessel’s systems and the hoist design. FirstPD’s involvement covered the full lifecycle of the hoist systems, from concept to offshore deployment, guaranteeing performance, safety, and durability in a challenging offshore environment.
