When awarding the contract, vessel stability was high on the Environment Agency's list of key requirements, along with shallow draft, flexible accommodation and the ability to easily move the vessel from job to job. The Cheetah 7.9m packaged with a custom built, 6 wheel disc-braked trailer provided exactly what the Agency needed.

Built to conform to the Workboat Code of Practice Category 3, the boat is MCA certified as a working vessel for four people. The spacious 'long' wheelhouse chosen by the Agency is ideal for their purposes, with Houdini slide opening windows fitted port and starboard. A fully adjustable helm suspension seat is mounted on a storage pod. To port a moulded worktop with computer storage beneath has been built in and additional storage space is available beneath the foredeck.

To meet guidelines on waste discharge overboard, a separate portside forward compartment houses a fully flushing manual Jabsco sea toilet connected to an in-built holding tank and quayside pump-out connection.

Grey waste from the sink is stored in a separate 25 litre container.

The boat is fitted with twin 90hp Honda extra long shaft outboards which, coupled with the deep-V buoyant hull design, give a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising average of 18 knots.

Fuel is stored in twin in-built 130 litre tanks.

Outside, a Mastervolt 3.5kVA diesel generator is fitted on the aft deck, housed in a moulded box which doubles as a central work bench. Twin Mastervolt battery chargers and 12V and 240V sockets are also specified, along with a Sarca bow roller and anchor system.

Full hydraulic Hydrive steering was supplied by Southern Cross Marine. The comprehensive stainless steel work was carried out using marine grade 316 stainless in Cheetah's own metal workshop. Electronics include a Garmin 152 GPS, a Garmin 250 colour echo sounder and an ICOM 503 radio D-Ds-100 DSc terminal unit for Class D operation.

Sentry III brings the number of dedicated survey vessels built by Cheetah to 10 since the first collaboration with Titan Environmental Surveys in 1998.

The company has a healthy order book including two 9m fishing boats, two 7.9m Cheetahs and three of the 6.9m variants.

Sean and Keith Strevens will again be on the floating pontoon at s eawork , available to field all enquiries and provide demonstration runs in Sentry III on Southampton Water.

MJ Information No: 19500