Red Bay up and away
Red Bay Boats in Northern Ireland has won two orders for its new Stormforce 1650 vessel. The orders have been placed by Sea Harris, a ferry operator on the Isle of Lewis for day trips to St Kilda island, off Scotland, and by Belfast Harbour Commissioners for use as a new pilot boat.
The company, which employs 23 people and has been in business since 1977, has a large portfolio of designs from 6 to 16.5 metres. The latest design, the Stormforce, is the first wholly commercial craft designed by the company and has been several years in development. The company is known for its RIBs, although this boat does not actually have tubes but rather a very strong foam filled fendering system which provides highly effective protection and extra stability during pilot transfer operations.
Tom McLaughlin, managing director of Red Bay Boats said: “The Stormforce 1650 has been developed as the central feature of our strategy to strengthen our position with the commercial sector. While we already have significant sales for our existing range of RIBs from commercial operators, the majority of our craft are used in the leisure sector.”
“Our research indicated substantial commercial sector opportunities for our expertise”, McLaughlin added: “We recognised, however, that to strengthen our position we would require a much larger RIB than those we currently manufacture. Stormforce 1650 can carry up to 52 passengers and is ideal as a fast and robust ferry and also as a pilot boat.”
Red Bay has already delivered to Sea Harris and is scheduled to deliver the pilot boat to Belfast in November.
By Jake Frith
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