GSS continues to grow with Aileen M

The craft is the third vessel built for GSS by Neptune Shipyards BV in Rotterdam, with the order underlining GSS’s satisfaction in the performance delivered by the Dutch boat builder.

The Aileen M is the largest boat in the GSS fleet to date at 25.1m long, with a beam of 10m. The UK flagged vessel is coded MCA Category 0 coded, allowing it to work up to 150 miles offshore.

The vessel features a narrow footprint superstructure which allows for a large, clear working deck that can take a load of 3.5 tons per sq/m.

A high capacity HRLM200 4SL crane will lift 9000 kg at 16.3m and an array of winches and other deck equipment makes the workboat well suited to anchor handling and all types of offshore operations. The winches consist of an 80 ton deck winch, a 50 ton deck winch and a 15 ton tugger, all able to be controlled from the wheelhouse.

Two keel cooled CAT C32 engines with a total of 2,700bhp power the Aileen M. The propulsion package also includes Twin Disc reduction gearboxes and fixed propellers with forward nozzles. The craft has a fuel capacity of 97 tons and can carry up to 43 tons of fresh water.

Other features that enhance the Aileen M’s flexibility are the four push knees on the bow and a large open stern for towing, with a bollard pull of 30 tons.

There is a spacious elevated wheelhouse equipped with all required modern navigational equipment, including a magnetic compass, GPS compass, daylight viewing radar, speed log, echo sounder, electronic chart plotter and watch keeping alarm.

The craft’s communications equipment includes a GSM phone, two DSC VHF radios, an MF/HF radio, email, and a satellite phone enabling the Aileen M to be in constant touch with base in case work priorities change.

The Neptune Eurocarrier 2510 is equipped with heated and air conditioned accommodation that can comfortably cater for a crew of up to six, allowing the boat to be available for shift on/shift off operations.

GSS is a growing company with an increasing international reach, operating vessels and providing a developing range of services and expertise as it evolves from its original vision of providing high quality plant and labour to the Royal Navy and the maritime construction industry. The expanding areas of work include the offshore wind farm sector and a range of projects carried out by the company’s civil engineering division. In addition to its own fleet GSS also has four ships under management on behalf of other owners.

‘We are delighted with this latest edition to the growing GSS fleet, said GSS managing director Jamie McGarry. ‘It is our third vessel from Neptune in Rotterdam and we really like the performance that their boats can deliver. It has a great deck working area and is well kitted out with all you need from a quality workboat.

‘We were very pleased with the boat from the time of the sea trials. Neptune’s years of experience in the business means that they really know what is needed to meet the tough demands of the modern workboat market.

‘We have ensured that the Aileen M is fitted out with all the modern lifting, communication and radar equipment which allow for the flexibility and quality of service that we aim to deliver to our clients.’

The Aileen M was pressed into service immediately following its launch and has already been working on the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm off the North Norfolk coast in the east of England. The wind farm, which is being built on behalf of Norwegian energy companies Statoil and Statkraft, is due for completion in 2011.