Rapid RIBs make world debut at Seawork
UK based RIB manufacturer MST (Marine Specialised Technology) is returning to Seawork in 2009 and is exhibiting some of its most recent models at the show, with two boats in the exhibition hall and a third on Seawork’ s floating pontoon.
Over the years, MST has won ever increasing numbers of orders from coastguard, customs, police and military clients. The craft being exhibited at Seawork demonstrate MST’s specialist design and production capabilities. The 10.5m Wheelhouse RIB will be at MST’s pontoon berth A53 and is the third of a five boat order placed by a Scandinavian client.
Powered by twin diesel Hamilton Waterjets, this 10.5 m craft is capable of 45 knots. The design incorporates a single point lift system for launching and retrieving and, as the craft has a 48 hour autonomy capability from its mother ship, provides on board accommodation for the crew, including a WC.
The 5m RIB on MST’s indoor Stand 166 had high specification demands to meet. The all aluminium construction boat delivers speed with stability, hitting 28 knots with 10 onboard and 38 knots with a crew of two. Its clever flooding hull design provides the necessary exceptional stability at rest and MST’s special ‘hybrid’ collar system provides the sea keeping benefits of a traditional pneumatic collar combined with the durability and damage resistance of a solid foam collar. The modular design provides easy maintenance and power comes from a Yamaha 100hp 4 stroke engine. The exhibited boat is the sixth of an order for ten.
Over and above bespoke projects MST offers a range of well proven craft and such an example is the ‘620 Workboat’ RIB, which is also being exhibited. This 6.2m craft is the fourth in a production run destined for the Pakistan Navy. In total 8 will be supplied to be operated from the new F22P class Frigates currently in build, from which they will be launched from twin fall davit systems. Powered by Volvo Penta D3s rated at 190hp and driving VP SX sterndrives, the craft is capable of speeds of up to 37 knots.
The principal buyers of MST’s high tech range of GRP, aluminium and advanced composite hull commercial RIBs are ‘business (or National Authority) to business’ and the company’s presence at Seawork has contributed to expanding this network.
MST recently expanded its manufacturing facility to over 20,000 sq/ft and anticipates increasing its turnover to over £5m by the middle of this year.
