Scottish-built workboat handed over to Mowi Ireland
A new aquaculture support vessel designed and built in Scotland will soon start work for organic salmon farmer Mowi Ireland after being delivered by Dales Marine Services Ltd.
The Réalt na Farraige (Star of the Sea in English) was built at Dales Marine’s dry dock in Aberdeen and was the first new vessel built in the dock in 33 years.
The workboat is a “Multifarm 18” vessel designed by Glasgow-based Marine Design International and is the first vessel in Mowi Ireland’s fleet to have Kort Nozzle propulsion. The shrouded propeller assemblies and propellers designed specifically for the boat will increase speed and bollard pull while reducing fuel consumption, all helping to reduce Mowi’s carbon footprint.
90m² deck
The vessel is equipped with a large 2.4-tonne deck crane, and a 15-tonne deck winch with bow roller for anchor works. The deck is over 90 square metres, allowing for up to 50 tonnes of deck cargo.
The unobstructed wheelhouse gives the skipper complete view of deck and working areas, which provides a safe and controlled work environment. The new vessel will be based in the Northwest region of Mowi Ireland with a three-person working crew and will be available to all regions when required.
Final checks are now being made on the vessel in Donegal, and it will be in use by Mowi Ireland soon.
Launched in Aberdeen
Work on the vessel commenced in July last year, and it was lowered into the water for the first time on March 5 at Dales Marine’s facilities in Aberdeen.
Dales Marine provides specialist shipping solutions in dry dock and steelwork, maintenance and ship repair, but building a boat from scratch was a different experience for project manager Gary Norrie and his team.
More than 30 technicians and engineers, with trades including platers, welders, electrical engineers, and hydraulic engineers, were utilised in the build. The project has also involved Dales Marine’s Aberdeen-based apprentices.
‘A very proud moment’
“Today is a very proud moment for myself and my team here at Dales Marine,” project manager Gary Norrie said at the launch in March.
“I have worked for Dales Marine for the last 14 years, and today has to be the most memorable of all those years. It has been a test for each and every one of us during the build over the last eight to nine months. From the day the first flat steel plate was brought into our workshop to the last brushstroke of paint applied, it has been a challenge and an exciting one for us all. The experience and skill utilised on this build by the team have been second to none.”
After completing harbour and sea trials, the Réalt na Farraige was sailed to Dales Marine’s site at Greenock on the Clyde for handover to Mowi.
‘Exciting opportunity’
“The Réalt na Farraige build has been an exciting opportunity for Dales Marine,” said the company’s chief executive, Michael Milne.
“The company is renowned for its expertise and experience in vessel engineering and repurposing vessels. This project has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Dales Marine’s skills that have been required to build this new multi-cat style vessel. It has been a great privilege to be part of this project. The vessel is a testament to the outstanding work undertaken to complete the build within an eight-month window.”
