Life at sea is tough—for both people and equipment. That’s why Seaquest Systems, a leading manufacturer of marine equipment, relies on HBC-radiomatic for remote control systems that can withstand extreme marine conditions and handle heavy loads with precision and safety.
About Seaquest Systems
Based in Killybegs, Ireland’s top fishing port, Seaquest designs and builds fish pumping systems, winches, deck cranes, and net sounders. Their equipment is known for durability, high performance, and adherence to ISO, DNV, and Lloyds standards. They serve vessels ranging from small 10m potters to some of the world’s largest pelagic fishing ships. Their cable winches, for example, are custom-built to handle heavy pulls up to 70,000 kg using a powerful multimotor drive system.
Why HBC-radiomatic?
Seaquest uses HBC-radiomatic remotes for operating their winches and hydraulic cranes—critical equipment that must safely manage these heavy loads in harsh marine environments.
Brian Leslie, Director of Seaquest, explains:
“Use of remotes for the on-board equipment offers a number of advantages, the principal being operator safety. With the net winches, for example, the operator can stand well back from equipment which, bearing in mind the conditions he might be working in, is safer and offers a better view of what is happening. It also means that the winch can be operated by one man, freeing up other members of the crew for other duties which means fewer people needed on deck”
After testing several brands, Seaquest chose HBC-radiomatic as it stands out for being robust, waterproof and up to the rigours of operation at sea. They are straightforward to use so crew training is not an issue and they are very reliable.
A Strong Partnership
Seaquest has a long-standing relationship with HBC-radiomatic, which took over supply from a Scandinavian source. This switch improved delivery speed and local support.
Mark Hollyhead, Technical Sales Manager at HBC-radiomatic (UK), says:
“We provide tailored support and keep spare units in stock, so Seaquest can replace remotes immediately without waiting for custom builds or shipments.”
The Right Tools for Heavy-Duty Jobs
Seaquest primarily uses two HBC-radiomatic models tailored to different operational needs:
Chosen for its compact, ergonomic design, the Linus 6 offers six linear levers that provide smooth, precise control of hydraulic systems. This makes it ideal for straightforward winch operations where intuitive handling and fine control over multiple functions are essential.
Used for more complex tasks, the Spectrum 2 features eight linear levers and supports a wider variety of control elements such as push buttons, toggle switches, and rotary switches. Its flexibility suits larger cranes and multi-function hydraulic equipment that require simultaneous management of numerous controls.
Both models include:
- Quick-swap electronic keys to minimize downtime
- Rechargeable batteries with up to 20 hours of continuous use
- Belt or strap options for hands-free operation and safety
Conclusion
With HBC-radiomatic remotes, Seaquest Systems delivers safer, more efficient, and reliable heavy-duty marine equipment operations—even in the toughest sea conditions.