These three crew boats form the first phase of a regional fleet replacement and enhancement strategy recently put in place by ISS, which was one of the first companies in the Middle East to acquire a fleet of launches. The fleet had grown to 12 by 2001.

The boats, costing $1m each, are being built at Al Jadef in Dubai under an agreement signed between ISS Middle East and the Dubai based shipbuilder Grandweld. Each new craft will be 70ft in length with a 30 tonne deck capacity and a full time crew of four. Of the first two new craft, one is built of steel and the other aluminium to meet different customer requirements.

MJ Information No: 18022