French builder offers wider range
Bord a Bord is a French builder of workboats that specialises in aluminium construction. Located on the North Brittany coast near Brest, Bord a Bord offers one of the widest ranges of small workboats that find application in the international marketplace.
A feature of the Bord a Bord range is the diversity of applications that the yard can meet demonstrating the flexibility of aluminium construction.
One of the more interesting designs was a 5.5 metre hand operated chain ferry which is operated on a short river crossing. In contrast, high performance designs have found application in four outboard powered 6.20 metre fast boats for the Sea Shepard organisation capable of carrying 10 passengers. Another fast boat was a similar sized boat built for the French fire brigade for rescue work which was powered by a 150 hp Yamaha outboard.
The international credentials of Bord a Bord are demonstrated by the 9.50 metre supply boat built for the Congo Traveaux Maritime which is used for transporting cargoes and personnel in Africa. This boat is powered by a pair of inboard Volvo Penta D3-170hp diesels. A similar sized and powered boat with a fully enclosed passenger cabin has been delivered to the same owners, capable of carrying 16 passengers.
Dive boats have been a speciality of Bord a Bord and recent deliveries include a 9.30metre and a 10 metre dive boat, one for operating in Indian Ocean resorts and one for the Atlantic Ocean resorts, both in Africa. These boats are both powered by a pair of outboards to allow fast passages to the dive sites and they are capable of carrying 20 divers.
Currently under construction are a series of eight open river boats in 5.60 and 4.30 metre sizes for work in Italy for flood intervention operations. These are outboard powered designs. Also under construction is an 8.60 metre survey boat powered by a Volvo Penta 170 hp diesel coupled to a Volvo Saildrive unit.
By Dag Pike
