Challis Rises to Workboat Challenge
Essex UK based Challis & Sons have launched their new 10m design steel workboat, the Challis 10m2 . Designed and constructed entirely in-house at Challis Clacton-on-Sea workshops, the new vessel was immediately put into service, successfully completing a contract for Ballast Ham Dredging pushing their water injection dredger Baldur onworks at Herne Bay in Kent.
The vessel is certified in accordance with the MCA Code, category 3, to work up to 20 miles from safe haven.
Challis 10m2 expands and complements the range of hire vessels currently available from Challis for bare boat hire or skippered charter and is intended for dredging and marine construction support, survey, diving, and barge handling duties in port, harbour and estuary environments. The 10m LOA craft has a beam of 2.9m with a draft amidships of 1m and 1.35m at the stern. The boat is road transportable for rapid delivery to more distant work sites.
The vessel is powered by a single Perkins Sabre 215C engine delivering 215hp at 2,500 rpm and driving a fixed pitch, three blade Promarin propeller through a PRM 1000D4 gearbox with a reduction of 4:1. The propeller is protected by rope guards, a prop ring and twin keels in a propulsion system designed for optimal performance whether the boat is towing or pushing. During sea trials Challis 10m2 met all design expectations with a free running service speed of 8 knots at 2,200rpm and a bollard pull of approximately 2 tonnes.
Engine cooling is via a self-contained fresh water keel cooling system and a dry exhaust system is fitted and silenced below deck. A single fuel tank located amidships holds 1,000 litres. The hydraulic steering is fitted with check valves, enabling the operator to maintain rudder position without holding the wheel while a Kobelt push-pull engine control system gives smooth and reliable service.
Numerous fender mounting points surround the vessel along with two steel half pipe rubbing strakes. The forward gunwhale has a removable section which reveals a bow roller for rope hauling and provides easy access forward to other vessels, pontoons, etc.
A300 mm OD rubber push bow extends 250 mm below the surface to aid the pushing of floating pipelines and prevent the boat from riding up while doing so.
For hydro survey work a 550mm by 400mm moonhole for transducers is positioned in the vessel’s centre line with GPS antenna mounting points directly above. To aid diver access, a platform is mounted on the water line at the stern. This can also be useful for floating pipeline maintenance and as an extra aid to man overboard recovery.
All Challis workboats are designed for safety and Challis 10m2 features a steel buoyancy jacket surrounding the main hull. This is made of 20 air-tight compartments containing reserve buoyancy equal to the weight of the boat and it also is placed so as to protect the main hull from external damage.
Self draining decks which are level and free from any major obstructions create a safe working area.
MJ Information No: 19242
