First of class workboat on Seawork pontoon
Erica’s aft deck has a working area of nearly 20 sq/m.
The first of class workboat Erica, built by Newhaven UK based Newbury Engineering Boatbuilders Ltd to its own account, will make its debut on the floating pontoon at Seawork 2011.
Newbury Engineering shares a premise with Subsearch Marine Services, whose subsidiary Fairways Marine Brokerage will be offering the vessel for sale or hire at Seawork.
Erica is a 10m long steel built workboat, with a beam of 4.1m, a moulded depth of 1.7m and a draught of 1.2m. The 20 ton displacement craft is classed MCA category 3, 20 miles from safe haven.
The craft is powered by twin Perkins Sabre M215C marine diesels rated 215 hp at 2,500 rpm and drive 30” by 22” handed four blade propellers through PRM 2.86:1 reduction gearboxes and 2.5” F1 Duplex shafts, which are water lubricated and reversible.
Steering is hand/hydraulic by Kobelt, with a rudder indicator. Emergency steering is provided with the use of a loose tiller that can be operated through the aft deck, although in a twin screw arrangement it is unlikely to be required. The engines are spaced wide apart to provide excellent handling characteristics.
The starboard engine drives a 1.5” Jabsco bilge pump which discharges overboard or can be switched to a fire hydrant/deck wash. The pump is driven by an electro-magnetic clutch and is therefore operable from the wheelhouse. Forward of the engine room bulkhead is a large storage area accessed from the wheelhouse which contains two 1,000 litre capacity integral fuel tanks.
Two sets of anchor chain and warp are stored adjacent to the escape hatch in this forward area and can be easily deployed. Two Danforth type anchors are stored against the bulwark forward with “bitter end” connections at the base of the head-post.
The wheelhouse electronics package includes Furuno 1623 model radar, Icom IC-M505 DSC VHF, Koden CVS-118 Mk II echosounder, Furuno GPS, Ritchie magnetic compass, Vetus ship’s horn, Francis lite 230 searchlight, Hotpot heating and window de-misting from engine waste heat, electric fuel gauges (and manual sounding on deck), and a full set of instruments. All electrical services can be run either from the port or the starboard battery bank, switched in the wheelhouse. An easily operated electric distribution box is mounted into the console with a volt and ammeter.
The stainless steel light mast is easily stepped and with the removal of the searchlight the height of the vessel from keel to wheelhouse top is only 4.25m, which allows for it to be road transportable. Built in lifting eyes and four webbing slings that are part of the ship’s inventory make for simple craneage. Twin skegs make this vessel free standing when on a reasonably flat surface.
The aft deck has a working area of nearly 20 sq/m and the 800mm high bulwarks provide a good working height. A 200mm high safety wire provides the required 1m height for crew safety while on passage.
The forward bulwarks are the required 1m in height and, along with stainless steel handrails mounted on the wheelhouse sides, make for safe working and being able to walk around the wheelhouse with ease. The deck is entirely non-slip.
Erica carries the usual life saving apparatus for six persons and has a full stability booklet.
Newbury Engineering has built more than 50 boats over the last 17 years, including tugs, pilot boats, other workboats and pontoons. Be sure to see the company’s latest newbuild, Erica, on the pontoon at Seawork 2011.
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