Bad weather with wind and high seas had pointed up the old ship’s lack of space and inadequate propulsion, Holtermann added.

The new ship was said to be more modern, efficient and capable of service as a diving platform for inspections, maintenance and repair projects along quaysides, outside and inside locks, at river barrier structures and in many other areas in the Weser ports.

Taucher Bremenports was built at the Hermann Barthel Shipyard on the Elbe after a Europe wide tender. It has been designed for a comprehensive range of project work apart from diving. Among other things, the boat boasts a working deck area of about 20m2, freeboard of 80cm, a bow thruster giving good manoeuverability in tight spaces, strengthened underwater structures for safe approaches to embankments and good stability for unrestricted work using a stern mounted hydraulic deck crane. The ship also boosts a submersible stern diving platform for diver entry and exit via a retractable ladder.

Taucher Bremenports is also equipped with the most advanced gear for helmet diving operation and its speed and range can be extended according to weather and project demands. The vessel is driven by a 190 kW main engine providing a speed of 8.5 knots. By Tom Todd