UK: Deals Made at Seawork Reflect Commercial Marine Industry Enthusiasm

Seawork has become not only an efficient one-stop-shop for seeing what’s new on the market, specifying future requirements and placing orders but also the event of choice for exhibitors to showcase the work they have completed for clients. This is particularly true of exhibitors presenting vessels on the Seawork pontoons.

New Pilot Launch from Goodchild 

At Seawork, Goodchild Marine Services presented first of two Pantocarene-designed 17m Pilot Boats for Estuary Services, destined to support pilots in the southern North Sea.

The Deep-V planing hull features a ‘beak’ bow, which reduces pitching and slamming and provides excellent directional stability when transferring pilots. The standard of construction has contributed to achieving light weight to reduce power demand, fuel consumption and environmental impact.

Cowes-based South Boats handover 19m catamaran to Off Shore Wind Services BV 

At the Seawork hand-over of a 19m Wind Farm Service Vessel to Off Shore Wind Services, Ben Colman, South Boats’ Technical Director, explained the versatile vessel’s capabilities: “At 21m overall, it can carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, operate up to 150 miles offshore and carry up to 12 passengers and three crew. In addition, it can be used for transferring up to 7 tonnes of fuel to offshore structures.”

Robust Handshake from IFCA 

A handshake between Stephen Rees, MD of Haverfordwest-based Robust Boats and Anthony Jensen, Chairman of Poole-based Inshore Fishing & Conservation Association (IFCA) finalised acceptance of a 5.7m fisheries patrol boat at Seawork 2012.

The 32 knot vessel has been prepared to operate up to 20 miles offshore between The Needles and the River Exe. The centre console instrumentation and 115hp Yamaha outboard have been selected for year-round service carrying up to 6 passengers and crew.

Ribcraft hand-over two new vessels 

Ribcraft of Yeovil handed over the keys of a new 7.9m RIB to Councillor Jackie Raymond, Chairman of the Hampshire Police Authority at Seawork.

The Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit (HMCU) vessel will be used for patrol, boarding, counter-terrrorism, fishery protection and MCA work in the Solent. Anthony Birr, Police Sergeant in the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit, reported that the Authority will be taking possession of a total of four new craft this year, all built by Seawork exhibitors Lochin, South Boats and Ribcraft: “The first RIB was part of a 4-boat plan worth over £1m which wouldn’t have happened without Seawork.”

Jason Purvey of Ribcraft commented: “We feel upbeat about the commercial sector of the market and this year’s Seawork has underlined that with good enquiries and plenty of interest.” 

Also at Seawork, Ribcraft handed over the first of a two-boat order for Fugro Seacore The vessels will be sent to West Africa and South America for crew transportation in the geo-technical & renewables industries.

Cheetah Cat handed over to Police 

The North-West Underwater Search and Marine Unit accepted a Cheetah Marine coded 7.2m Police Boat at Seawork.  The Cheetah, made in Ventnor Isle of Wight, is powered by twin 90hp Honda outboards and equipped with Simrad instrumentation and sonar. Inspector Dave Corcoran, who leads the Unit said: “This vessel will provide us with an even greater capability and capacity for our work and the Cheetah will prove its worth in service when deployed for the Olympic Sailing in Dorset.”

Sales at Seawork 

Seawork was the scene of myriad deals both large and small. Exhibitors sold to fellow exhibitors as well as visitors, with some agreements being the result of prolonged negotiations and some being spontaneous.

Mark White, Nelson Stud Welding, remarked: “At Seawork, we made our first ever sale at an exhibition, in 22 years! We are looking to grow our business in the marine sector and this is a great show for us to do that.”

The deals in detail 

CTruk Boatsof Essex secured five orders for five vessels at the exhibition, including an instruction to build the first CVenture40, which offers year-round use for owner-operators, and four 19m multi-purpose catamarans (MPC).

CVenture40 features CTruk Boats’ flexible pod system, meaning the vessel can carry personnel to windfarms in Europe in summer and then be reconfigured to offer luxury expedition charters in the Caribbean in the winter months.

The four 19m MPCs will be built this year and immediately go on contract to the UK’s east coast.

Buckie Shipyard secures Mainprize order 

Buckie Shipyard of Scotland announced confirmation at Seawork of a two-vessel order for Mainprize Offshore Ltd of Scarborough.

The 24m Offshore Support Vessels will be from the Teknicraft design stable and be the first to be built in the UK. The foil-assisted catamaran, with semi-wave piercing bow, will have a multipurpose capability being able to carry up to 36,000 Ltrs of fuel for fuel transfer, up to four 20’ containers or deck cargo. With an A-frame aft, two-position crane and moonpool, the vessels will also be useful for survey and ROV work, diving operations and all other offshore supply and support operations. The first of these vessels will be at Seawork 2013.

Siemens purchases MaXccess system 

Also reflecting the growing impact of the offshore renewable energy industry, Siemens purchased the very first MaXccess system from OSBIT Power, designed to improve the safe transfer of service specialists onto offshore wind turbines at Seawork.

South Boats sells to Hampshire Police

South Boats Special Projects confirmed an order at Seawork from Hampshire Constabulary for a South Catamaran 12m Workboat. Powered by twin Iveco 420hp N67ENTM45 engines, the vessel will achieve a sprint speed of 25 knots.

Strategic Marine partners Testbank 

The Chairman of Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine met Southampton-based marine and repair company Testbank at Seawork last year and returned in 2012 to sign a Sales & Service Agency Agreement.

MAN reels in order

Swindon-based MAN Engines & Components UK secured an order at Seawork for four pairs of V12-1200 medium-duty engines, specified by MPI Workboats. The engines will be installed in four new 19m catamarans from South Boats.

Scania 16-litre marine engines for Solent & Wightline Cruises 

Scania announced, at Seawork, a deal for two D16M 16-litre marine engines. Developing 600 horsepower each, the units are destined for a new passenger-carrying catamaran to be operated in the Solent by Solent & Wightline Cruises. The new vessel is scheduled to enter service Spring 2013.

Lee Rayment, Managing Director of Solent & Wightline Cruises said, “The reliability and fuel economy of Scania engines is outstanding.”

Rolls-Royce water jets to power windfarm support vessels 

‪Rolls-Royce secured a contract to supply FF600 water jets for four new wind farm support vessels to be built by South Boats for offshore company MPI. The 19m catamarans will be used to transfer people and cargo to the growing number of offshore wind farms around the coast of Europe. ‪

Andy Brett, Rolls-Royce, Marine Sales Manager – UK, said: “We’re delighted that Rolls-Royce has again been selected to provide leading-edge water jet technology. The performance of our water jets, combined with a responsive control system, is proving a popular choice for cutting edge wind farm support vessels, which require high power and good manoeuvrability to hold position in rough seas.”

Small exhibitor makes it big

An order from Dalby Offshore Services to supply and install blinds on Dalby Tees and Dalby Humber was confirmed by Solacure at Seawork. The installation on the 20m Alicats follows a successful fit-out on Gardian 11 featured on the Seawork pontoons. Order value? 300% more than the cost of exhibiting.

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Offshore WIND staff, June 19, 2012; Image: Seawork