The vessel is intended for towage, mooring, and general harbour duties in the port of Belfast and left on its delivery voyage at the end of June.

The twin-screw vessel was built to the Halmatic WB-15 specification, with design assistance provided by TT Boats Ltd. With an overall length of 15.4m, and moulded breadth of 5m the tug has a draft of approximately 2.0m. Construction of the double chine hull and superstructure was carried out at VT Halmatic's Portchester shipyard, using pre-cut steel components produced in Holland by Centraalstaal.

The hull incorporates a semi-raised foredeck and moulded rubber bow fendering extending down to the waterline. Built with mooring duties in mind the decks have been kept clear of any major obstructions and the superstructure is protected by tubular overhead guard-rails.

Towing bitts aft form the mounting for a Britannia quick release towing hook and a small bridle winch is located neatly beneath the hook pedestal.

Controls for the hydraulically operated winch are fitted inside the starboard bulwark. A spacious wheelhouse is provided, but with very little internal furniture in what is essentially a 'day-boat'. Below decks, in the forward portion of the hull, is a large storage space and basic toilet facilities. Internal fuel tanks located amid-ships have a capacity of 8000 litres.

Farset of Belfast is powered by two Volvo Penta D12-550 diesels, each rated at 550bhp (408kW) at 1900rev/min.

The electronically controlled, turbo-charged, engines are fully IMO compliant, and this is the first installation of this engine type in a commercial application by a UK boat builder. Dry exhaust systems are fitted, with silencers below deck and stainless steel outlets above the wheelhouse roof. Power is transmitted via Twin Disc MG5114 gearboxes, with a reduction of 4.59:1, to twin fixed pitch propellers.

The Kaplan type, four-blade, bronze propellers rotate within fixed Kort nozzles. Kort Propulsion Ltd manufactured and supplied the nozzles and mounting structures, complete with pre-aligned 'Y' brackets.

A pair of, semi-balanced, plate rudders are actuated by a Wagner power-assisted steering system and a single, central wheel, in the wheelhouse.

On trials the tug exceeded the specified performance figures by a healthy margin, achieving a bollard pull of 14 tonnes and a free running speed of over 11 knots. A fuel consumption of 100 litres per hour is predicted at 1700rev/min steady running.

Controls and instrumentation have been kept simple with the majority of engine and propulsion system instruments located on a central console at the forward end of the wheelhouse. Engine and gearbox controls are combined in a single 'twin-lever' installation and the electronic engine controls enable engine synchronisation, tick-over' and other adjustments to be made via simple 'press-button' switches.

A nautical and communications equipment package by Simrad includes a Simrad RFC35 fluxgate compass with an IS15 display on the console, and a CA42 navigational system. The latter comprises a single10 inch TFT display with combined inputs from the radar, DGPS, chart-plotter and echosounder.

A Simrad RD68 Marine VHF radio with DSC is installed and a HT50 portable VHF is stowed adjacent to the control position, Farset of Belfast is the latest in a series of vessels supplied to Ferran by Halmatic but the first to be constructed in steel. The Belfast company operates a 'round the clock' service, with pilot launches and other craft for the port authority, leading to an association with Halmatic dating back over a decade.

Farset of Belfast replaces the small, 515bhp, motor tug David Andrews that has now been offered for sale.

Following hard on the heels of this latest delivery by VT Halmatic is a larger tug/workboat for the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners of Plymouth.

This 18m vessel is expected to be delivered at the end of the year.