Meercat announces its biggest workboat yet

Multipurpose, pontoon-shaped workboats or ‘multicats’ as they are sometimes referred to (a name with specific origins elsewhere) are now commonly seen supporting various maritime activities. Within Europe, competition for constructing such workboats is alive and well and while centred on a handful of builders, smaller yards such as Meercat are offering alternatives to the well-established marques.

This latest, designated the Meercat M18 follows the standard configuration of robust pontoon-shaped monohull with offset deck house offering crew accommodation up to four persons or workshop, a working deck provides cargo-carrying capacity of up to 85t. The M18 meets UK MCA Workboat Code of Practice – Category 2 (60NM from safe haven) and offers flexibility of layout to meet specific requirements.

Basic specifications include: LOA 18.75m, beam overall 8.7m, depth moulded 2.5m and draught loaded 2.1m. Propulsion is a conventional twin-screw arrangement powered by two Doosan V158TIH main engines each developing 480bhp at 1,800rpm driving 1.2m diameter propellers in nozzles. Steering is via a twin-rudder 24V hydraulic arrangement. Auxiliary power includes a Beta 33kVA, 415V, 3 phase generator. Tank capacities are: two fuel tanks each 4.5m3, fresh water 0.5m3, black water 0.5m3 and three 7.5m3 liquid cargo tanks. Performance figures include speed of 8.5kn and bollard pull 12t.

Two items of deck equipment are mentioned in the specification. Italian company Iron Fist Tecnologie Meccaniche may not get a regular mention in the list of marine crane manufacturers but does nonetheless offer a range of such meeting SOLAS and EC Marine Equipment Directive standards. Iron Fist’s European distributor is De Jong Ijmuiden BV and an IFG60000, 3.8t at 12.5m deck crane is included with the M18. Scarborough UK-based North Sea Winches provide a 10t tugger winch and additional deck equipment can be accommodated depending on the customer’s requirement.

Meercat, formerly part of Burgess Marine is a recently independent boatbuilder following a management buy out over the Christmas period and some of its workboats are road transportable providing the answer to requirements for fast access to difficult locations perhaps far from the coast. Delivery times vary from three months for a 14m workboat to five months for the larger 18m version, bespoke projects take a little longer.