This is the second workboat to enter service this year designed by Macduff Ship Design. Although similar in length to the first one, the 13m tug ‘Fair Maid’ seen on the front cover of MJ in June, the newest vessel is designed for a completely different role.

Whilst the Seiont IV is primarily designed to handle navigation buoys, it is also equipped to carry out general harbour work, towage and occasional pilotage tasks. The vessel will operate in and around the port of Caernarfon, Gwynedd, including the Menai Strait and Caernarfon Bar, lifting and laying aids to navigation and mooring buoys.

Seiont IV has a beam of 6.2m, a moulded depth of 2.8m and a draft aft of 1.7m. Twin Mitsubishi 6D24 main engines, each rated 169 bhp at 2,000 rpm, drive fixed and open Exalto 900mm diameter propellers through PRM 1000D4 gearboxes with 4:1 ratios to provide a service speed of 8.2 knots and a bollard pull of 3.1 tons. Twin high performance aerofoil rudders (standard on Macduff Ship Design vessels) and a Hardy Engineering bow thrusters are fitted to maximise manoeuvrability.

The vessel is of all steel construction with sub-division below decks progressing from fore peak/store into an accommodation area followed by the engine room then the steering gear compartment, which also provides additional storage. There are capacities for 2,580 litres of fuel oil, 137 litres of water, and a complement on board of six. Seiont IV is classed MCA Workboat category 3.

The wheelhouse is similar in style to that on the Fair Maid and affords all round vision through large windows and in particular a deep window aft to give an uninterrupted view of the aft deck operations. This is crucial when hauling and laying buoys.

The helmsman’s seat is on the port side and there is a small mess area on the starboard side. Below the wheelhouse there is a comfortable galley equipped with a microwave, toaster and kettle and seating area for the crew. Also down below is a WC compartment.

Deck equipment includes a Guerra 110.90A2 hydraulic deck crane rated at 12.52 t/m, with a 7.9m boom and a lift of 1,980kg at 6.1m. The hydraulic winch is a six ton core pull winch with a capacity of 27m of 26mm stud link chain. It is fitted just aft of the wheelhouse and is complete with a warping head and foot controls for operator safety. The hydraulics are powered by a dedicated auxiliary engine, a Mitsubishi S45-DT air cooled set with an output of 53kW at 2,200 rpm.

Extensive fendering is fitted around the vessel comprised of Sovereign rubber 200mm x 200mm D section. In addition, half round steel fender bars are fitted and a large diameter heavy duty transom stern radiused corner is installed to ease the hauling of chains over the stern. The aft deck offers a large clear area for the carriage of navigation buoys and is serviced by the deck crane.

The Seiont IV represents a major investment for the Caernarfon Harbour Trust but equips it a multi–functional state of the art vessel capable of carrying out the core duties whilst also performing other tasks safely.