The vessel was constructed entirely at the wholly owned Damen Galatz shipyard and fitted out to a very high standard. A standard Multi Cat 2510, the hull is 25.97m in length overall and 10.06m beam, with a draft of 2.63m and displacement of 371 tonnes. Two well fendered push knees are incorporated in the bow but unlike the earlier vessel no bow roller is fitted. In place of the roller is a heavy rounded steel fairlead separating the knees. An electrically powered capstan is mounted on the port bow with mountings for the deck crane to starboard. The stern is configured to accept the substantial 20 tonne 'A' frame and incorporates vertical protective fendering on the transom.

UKD Sealion is propelled by two Cummins KTA 19M3/HD diesels generating a total of 1279 bhp at 1800 rev/min.

Power is transmitted through Reintjes WAF 364L (4.92:1) gearboxes to a pair of Promarin fixed pitch propellers of 1500mm in diameter. The propellers rotate within fixed nozzles manufactured by Van de Guissen.

This propulsion system gives the vessel a bollard pull of 17.6 tonnes and a maximum speed of 9.5 knots.

The spacious engineroom is neatly laid out with the vessel's generators and most of the auxiliary equipment arranged down the centreline. Electrical power is supplied by two, Cummins powered, 6CTA8.3-D alternators with an output of 175 kVA each. A John Deere harbour set of 34 kVA is also provided. Wing tanks incorporated in the hull structure have a capacity of 60 cu/m of fuel and 76.1 cu/m of water/ballast can be carried in tanks fore and aft.

A dedicated tank for fresh water contains 13.7 cu/m.

The superstructure on UKDSealion is centrally mounted with a large 'tunnel' in the centre for the winches and a full width wheelhouse. The accommodation comprises a combined mess room and galley above deck and well-appointed cabins and sanitary spaces below for up to five persons. Facilities are provided for washing and drying and lockers are installed for working gear. Forward of the below deck accommodation is an extensive equipment store.

A full-width forward console in the wheelhouse houses the main propulsion, and winch controls, communications and navigational equipment. A Radio Zeeland 'Seapilot 75' autopilot is installed along with a Navigat X Mk 1 (mod 1) gyrocompass and a Kotter type magnetic compass.

The radar system is a Furuno FR-1510 Mk 3. Furuno also supplied the FE-700 echo-sounder, an FM-8500 VHF radio and FS-1562-15 single sideband radio, both the GMDSS standards.

A Simrad RT-64H VHF radio is also carried. The GPS system is by Thales and the DGPS receiver for survey work is by Trimble.

Tide gauges can be read using an Ormston receiver. A survey desk is provided in the starboard aft corner of the wheelhouse where a Dell Optiplex GX 240 computer system is situated.

The wheelhouse affords an excellent view all round the vessel including the working decks. A low-level window on the centreline aft enables the winches to be seen from the central control position.

For dredging the vessel is equipped with a full width plough suspended from the 'A frame and controlled by a 20 tonnes capacity hydraulically operated Kraaijveld hoist winch on the after deck. The plough is towed by chains and steel wire pendants on either side, the length of which can be adjusted using the main winch via leads in the forward bulwarks and sheaves on deck. The inboard portion of the pendants run from the forward sheaves to the main Kraaijveld winch in a channel with a neat system of flush mounted covers in the work deck.

The main winch has a single spilt drum and a maximum line pull of 40 tonnes at 5.55m/min.

Virtually all of the forward work deck has a protective wood covering and can sustain load of 15 tonnes per square metre.

UKD Sealion is fitted with a hydraulically operated Heila HRLM 140-2S deck crane with capacity of 12.9 tonnes at 9.95m reach or 23.7 tonnes at 5.55m.

This is a considerably more powerful crane than that fitted to the earlier vessel and more than capable of dealing with most buoy replacement work. When not in use the crane folds neatly leaving plenty of deck space for buoys, sinkers, chain and other unwieldy items. A handy 10 tonne tugger winch, also from Kraaijveld, is mounted on the port side of the work deck aft to assist with buoy handling and other deck work. On the starboard deck edge beneath the crane is a hinged 'stopper plate' used to trap buoy mooring chains and secure them whilst the buoy is detached. The 'stopper plate' is designed to accept two sizes of chain and can be rotated into a vertical position when not in use.

This latest addition to the UK Dredging fleet is a versatile, multi-purpose vessel with many interesting and useful features.

Many of these are doubtless the result of operational experience gained by the owner from it's predecessor and Damen's ability to incorporate improvements derived from many sources.