Billy Pugh

About Billy Pugh Company

Billy Pugh Company has been one of the most trusted names in offshore and marine safety equipment since its founding in 1957. The company's story begins with Mr. Billy Pugh himself — a former United States Coast Guard member who, while working on an offshore drilling rig, recognized the serious dangers posed by the crude methods being used to transfer personnel between vessels and platforms. Refused by management when he raised his concerns, he set out to build a better solution. That drive gave rise to a brand that has spent more than six decades redefining what it means to keep workers safe at sea.

Headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, Billy Pugh Company — now part of Forfend Industries — designs and manufactures a full line of premium quality safety equipment purpose-built for the offshore oil and gas, marine, and industrial sectors. What sets Billy Pugh apart is a philosophy of intentional over-engineering: every product in the lineup is built to exceed, not merely meet, the minimum standards set by the USCG, OSHA, CE, and ANSI. This commitment to going above and beyond compliance is woven into the company's DNA.

Flagship Products & Innovation

Billy Pugh Company is perhaps best known for revolutionizing crane-suspended personnel transfer. The original personnel net — an iconic symbol of the offshore industry for over 60 years — established the brand's reputation for strength and reliability. That legacy evolved into the X-904 Personnel Transfer Device, developed over two years of intensive collaboration with HSE&Q managers, crane operators, rig managers, and offshore workers. The X-904 quickly became the most successful product in the company's history, setting a new benchmark for user-friendly, crane-assisted offshore transfers.

Innovation hasn't stopped there. The next-generation X-1000 Personnel Transfer Device builds on everything that made the X-904 a standard, adding self-righting flotation, heave compensation, cushioned standing mats, and enhanced side-impact protection — representing the most advanced personnel transfer solution Billy Pugh has ever produced. In 2025, the company also acquired the Stiffy Safe Hand Tools product line, uniting the original tangle-resistant tag line manufacturer with the original push-pull tool company to further strengthen its offshore safety portfolio.

A Complete Offshore Safety Product Range

Beyond its signature personnel transfer devices, Billy Pugh Company offers a comprehensive catalog of safety solutions designed for demanding marine and industrial environments. Their product range includes:

• Personnel & Cargo Nets — including rescue nets, helicopter nets, scramble nets, and cargo nets built to exacting standards from high-quality synthetic and natural fiber ropes.
• Baskets — OSHA-compliant man baskets, collapsible work baskets, derrick riding baskets, and heavy-duty cargo baskets rated for tough offshore lifting operations.
• Fiberglass Storage — custom-designed all-weather storage boxes built in Billy Pugh's own dedicated fiberglass shop, protecting emergency equipment from UV rays, saltwater, and the elements year-round.
• Lines & Ropes — a variety of tag lines, tangle-resistant lines, swing ropes, and fast throw lines engineered for offshore applications.
• Flexible Ladders — a full range of access ladders manufactured from multiple raw materials, built for the most demanding job sites.
• Specialty Products — including ring buoys, work vests, life floats, stretchers, windsocks, safety pipe hooks, and more.

Why Choose Billy Pugh?

When workers' lives depend on the equipment they use, there is no room for compromise. Billy Pugh Company has spent over six decades listening closely to the offshore industry — partnering directly with drilling contractors, platform crews, and safety officers to develop and refine products in real-world conditions. Their willingness to customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions for specific applications reflects a responsiveness that has earned them lasting loyalty across the oil & gas, marine, and industrial markets worldwide. For anyone outfitting an offshore platform, vessel, or industrial worksite with safety-critical equipment, Billy Pugh remains a name synonymous with reliability and trust.