Somerset-based Coltraco Ultrasonics, which manufactures innovative ultrasonic technology for the maritime and naval sectors, has won a contract to supply almost 200 Portascanner Watertight systems to the Indian Navy — to protect its crews by ensuring that the hatches, doors and cable transits on its 155 warships are watertight.

Coltraco (www.coltraco.com) won this contract with support from the Department for International Trade’s (DIT) Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP), which provides grants to help businesses gain essential market knowledge and exhibit at trade shows around the world.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: “Coltraco is a brilliant example of how UK design and manufacture can have a global impact, with 90% of its sales coming from overseas.

As an international economic department, DIT stands ready to support any business with exporting ambitions.”

Coltraco has provided a similar service to the Royal Navy for over 20 years and has customers in 109 countries, including Singapore, China and the USA.

Its CEO, Carl Hunter, said: “We presented our Portascanner Watertight product to the Indian Navy, which also carried out extensive trials with competitors.

“Our product was selected for its accuracy — it’s the most mathematically accurate model available world-wide.

“It’s also easy to use and has local in-country support.”