Vessel Launch: Two newbuilds from Neptune

Based on the Euro Carrier 2611 design, the 26.5m MPR 1 has been specially outfitted for wind farm construction while keeping its all-round ability in the dredging, offshore and general marine contracting markets.

There is accommodation on board for eight persons, with two shower facilities. On the front of the deckhouse there is a paint depot and on the side a deck store with room to carry out small jobs. The wheelhouse has a single control position with good visibility, particularly of the winches and foredeck. Besides this, a camera system has been installed that gives three views of the deck workspaces with further views of the engine room.

The workboat is propelled by two main engines, Caterpillar C32s which give a power of 970 kW, in combination with propellers of 1,700 mm in diameter. While not exactly fast, (MPR 1’s maximum speed is 10 knots) the vessel has a bollard pull of 30 tons.

The MPR 1 is equipped with an electric bow thruster with a power of 280 kW. Forward on the port side, there is a crane made by Heila of type 230-4SL. Amidships, there are anchor handling winches of 80 and 50 tons. The port side aft sports a 15 ton tugger winch.

To keep the general flexibility of the craft, the hydraulic towing pins are located on the forward deck, positioned just behind the bow roller: this arrangement opens the possibility of adding two extra pins. A towing hook is attached to the Samson post and container locks have also been installed on deck. The vessel has also been provided with a fuel delivery reel by means of which it is possible to deliver 100 m3 of fuel to the wind farms or other stations.

The hydraulics are powered by two 75 kW electric motors. A pair of Leroy Somer generators are powered by C9 Caterpillars, each of which delivers 250 kVA. Both generator sets are hopper cooled, with an auxiliary arrangement that allows the starboard generator to be radiator cooled giving the craft good shallow water capability. Alongside this, there is a Hatz harbour generator set which delivers a further 22 kVA.

The craft has an 11m beam and has gained a Bureau Veritas classification of I*Hull, Machinery, AUT UMS, (Unrestricted Navigation). Further upgrading to an A3 class is possible.

Also recently entering the water at the Neptune facilities is the Lydia D which is due to be delivered at the end of August.

This 31m tugboat is of the type Delta Multipurpose Pusher Tug, model DMPT 3000 and was built as an Ice Class IB vessel.

The wheelhouse has a superb control position: as well as being provided with all facilities there is an excellent view over the afterdeck and its 60 ton combined towing and anchor-handling winch.

Next to this on the starboard side is a 15 ton tugger winch. Further, there is a towing hook attached to the Samson post; hydraulic towing pins are installed aft and the vessel is equipped with a stern roller. On the afterdeck in the structure of the Samson post is a Heila crane, model 200 / 20-4SL. The deck has been provided with a wooden top surface and container locks.

The accommodation on the vessel is suitable for a dozen people. It consists of five separate sleeping cabins; each equipped with airco and a TV with satellite receiver, and like the MPR 1, there is also a deck store to allow small jobs to be carried out.

The vessel is propelled by two Caterpillar 3512 B HD main engines, each delivering 1,566 kW, and a hydraulic bow thruster with a power of 300 kW. All in all, the vessel has a bollard pull of 45 tons. The hydraulics are powered by a Caterpillar C18 with a maximum power of 445 kW. Additionally, there are two Leroy Somer generators, each powered by Caterpillar C4.4s.