The vessel follows standard South Boats design principles with symmetrical under water sections and asymmetrical wet deck knuckles and spray deflectors. The design includes a high buoyancy bow and triple internal spray knuckles to maintain a suspension of air/ water to dampen pitching moments particularly in heavy weather. The hulls maintain a parallel waterline beam through the length of the vessel, allowing for good weight distribution.

The design offers class leading sea keeping, stability, fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability.

The sea keeping in particular has been proven in service, transferring engineers to wind farm turbines in conditions in excess of 2.5m significant wave height.

Offshore Provider is fabricated of aluminium and is generally in accordance with Lloyds Special Service Craft Rules with all metal of marine grade 50830 and 6082T6 extrusions meeting the requirements of Lloyds Register of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas. Metal thicknesses vary to suit panel construction but typically 15mm at the keel, 8-12mm bottom flat, 6mm to the chine, 8mm chine bars, 5mm topsides and 4mm wheelhouse.

To avoid edge to edge welding with differing sheet thicknesses, chine bars are used extensively to increase structural strength and avoid any thermal distortion and welding stress. Shell plating is spaced away from the frames at certain points to avoid stress points and all chine bars are slotted with radiused corners into the framing. The substantial framing and shell plating ensures maximum durability in an industry where vessel down time cannot be tolerated.

The layout of the vessel takes crew transfer safety to a new level, with a lowered main deck providing bulwark protection and 1m railing right around the perimeter of the vessel. The vessel has a central Island wheelhouse format with 65m 2ofworking deck area split equally between forward and after deck areas. On deck the vessel is fitted with forward and after flood lights, side deck recessed lighting, a Palfinger PK4501M hydraulic fully folding 2t deck crane aft and a Spencer Carter hydraulic capstan to the bow.

The deck is fitted with numerous safety rails and safety signage to provide safe transfer to the South Boats MKIII bow loading platform accessed via an internal platform at the bow of the vessel.

The wheelhouse is accessed from the after deck through a Seaglaze part glazed aluminium door and is fitted with 12 individual KAB214 crew seats fitted with hip guards and seat belts and mounted on plinths for individual stowage of personal and safety equipment.

A full width aluminium console is fitted with a full suite of navigation electronics including Furuno Navnet Radar, Chart Plotter, Video Sounder, Differential GPS, AIS Receiver/ Transmitter, Navtex, Load Hailer System, 3 x Icom DSC VHFs and a Sea Marshall Crew Finder System. The control system for the vessel is unique and has been designed by South Boats and Ultra Dynamics Ltd and built by the latter.

Engine and gearbox controls have been supplied by Twin Disc through Marine & Industrial Transmissions and feature synchronisation of both engines and pre-programmed with three idle settings set at different RPM's to allow for wind and tide conditions. This integrated control system guarantees the highest levels of manoeuvrability in the harbour, at sea and whilst docking turbines.

Twin Scania DI12 65M 500hp diesel engines are coupled to Twin Disc 5114A 1:1 ratio gearboxes driving Clarke's drive shafts to Ultra Dynamics 376 water jet units. The port gearbox is fitted with an SAE A electrically clutched power take off powering the crane hydraulics whilst the starboard gearbox is fitted with an SAE B manually clutched power take off powering the capstan hydraulics. The vessel's hydraulic systems have been designed and supplied by Hercules Hydraulics Ltd.

This propulsion package offers the vessel a sprint speed in excess of 21 knots and an 18 knot plus fully loaded cruising speed at 1900RPM. At low cruising speeds (16 knots) the vessel offers a frugal fuel consumption of 125 litres per hour (7.5 litres per mile) and high cruising speed (19 knots) consumption of 160 litres per hour (8.4 litres per mile). The performance of the vessel is staggering and the vessel can maintain cruising speeds in comfort in up to 3m significant wave height.

The vessel has been inspected by the MCA with drawing approval, stability book and build checks and certified under MCA Small Workboat & Pilot Boat Code to operate in Category 2 Waters (60nm) for 12 passengers, three crew and 3,000kg of deck cargo.

The vessel is to make its debut at the Seawork 2006 exhibition at Southampton on 13, 14 and 15 June, on the South Boats Special Project Ltd. berth, A25. The company will also be exhibiting an example of its South Catamaran 32/10m Commercial and its first of class South RIB 9m Sports Fisherman.

MJInformation No: 21982