Island shipping's new vessel ISLAND TIGER paid a brief visit to Wicklow on over the weekend , the vessel sailed early on Sunday morning bound for Southampton to attend a work boat exhibition. So while she was in port l was able to get a look around and a spin around Wicklow bay.

Safehaven Marine have launched 'ISLAND TIGER' the first of our new GRP Windfarm Catamarans, the Wildcat 53 / 16m. This is a completely new design based on the highly respected Wildcat 36/40 design, incorporating the same high buoyancy bow, twin chine catamaran hull form that has proved so successful in providing exceptional levels of sea keeping and performance from Safehaven’s Wildcats over the past 5 years. 'ISLAND TIGER' is 16m long (17m inc dive platforms) with a 6m / 20ft  beam and will provide a very stable platform that will suit a multitude of roles from passenger, crew transfer and commercial workboat, but she is specifically designed as a wind farm support vessel. To this end the bow area has been designed to accommodate a specially developed fender system from Ocean 3. The fender design is of high density foam core 300m x 400mm with a heavy 50mm thick rubber  wall to cushion impacts and stresses when the bow is held against windfarm platforms in heavy weather. No stranger to building exceptionally strong GRP hulls, the Wildcat 50 will have the same heavy duty scantlings as tour renowned pilot boats, to provide a vessel that can withstand tough use in the harsh windfarm support vessel environment.

'ISLAND TIGER'  is powered by twin Scania D12 650hp engines driving Ultra Dynamics waterjets and on sea trials achieved a 25kts maximum speed which gives an operational speed of 23kts at 80% of max power on a 25,000kg lightship displacment. Larger engines such as the Scania or Volvo D16 engines can alternately be fitted for higher speeds. 

The superstructure is a raised bridge deck design with the helm and navigators position elevated to provide excellent visibility. The cabin is centrally positioned in an ‘island configuration’ with a clear 750mm walkway each side with  and around the bow where there is a cargo lifting space. This provides a safe passageway and spacious work and boarding area at the bow.

Aft twin dive platforms at the transom of each hull give waterline access through transom gates, and the well decked aft cockpit features a HIAB crane and a large clear cargo area.  

Simon Greenwood of Island Shipping

For more information on Island Shipping click here  www.islandshipping.ie   www.safehavenmarine.com

To see video of ISLAND TIGER in action click - Video 01 - Video 2

Thanks to Simon for the tour of  ISLAND TIGER

12/06/10

Around the Harbour

Progress is being made on the South Quay project

12/06/10

Wicklow RNLI volunteers rescue a dog.

02/06/10

BESSIE ELLEN

The Ketch BESSIE ELLEN anhored off Wicklow harbour , she was bound for the Dublin Maritime festival and sailed early the next morning.

Bessie Ellen was built in Plymouth, Devon in 1904 by William Kelly, and is one of the last surviving West Country trading ketchs, from a fleet that once stood at 700. These were popular as cargo vessels around the UK and Europe up until the 1930’s.  At 120ft long, and carrying up to 150 tons in her hold, she transported clay, peat, aggregates, salt and many other bulk items around the UK and Ireland.  By the Second World War, trade was becoming scare with the growth of power driven vessels taking over from sailing ships.  Bessie Ellen sailed with cargo right up to 1947 when she was sold by Captain John Chichester to Captain Moller from Frederiksvaerk in Denmark.  She then began sailing again in the sheltered waters of the Baltic Sea under a new name of ‘Forsget’, before undergoing a radical transformation – the rig was greatly reduced and a large Hundested single cylinder engine was installed.  Bessie Ellen continued to operate until the 1970’s when the ship became too small a capacity to be profitable.Now back in Plymouth nearly 100 years since she was built, Bessie Ellen has been restored to the graceful sailing ship she once was.  Bessie Ellen now works a busy itinerary including day sails and passages around the UK and Europe and is a regular guest at the major maritime festivals.

Vist the BESSIE ELLEN website here

02/06/10

Work on the South Quay in progress

23/05/10

MARIA LENA at the North pier

20/05/10

EX MARE GRATIA joins RONA and CELTIC HARVESTER at the North pier , at various times in the Summer certain areas are open for mussel fishing and its quite common to have 10 or more trawlers working along the Coast . At night they moor at the North pier or anchor in the bay.

19/05/10

Arklow

Island Shippings HUSKY approaches Arklow with a jack up rig in tow , the rig was working on the windfarm turbines off the coast.

HUSKY and the tug WILLFREEDOM

The Damen Stan Tug 1800WILFREEDOM 

For more information on this tug click here

18/05/10

The Scout training vessel TS JOHN JERWOOD

The TS John Jerwood is used as part of the UK Sea Cadets' training programme for 12 to 18 year olds. The programme teaches teamwork and social responsibility through a range of activities based on seamanship and maritime skills. The 24 metre vessel gives power boat experience to trainees, a crucial part of their naval instruction. Although the Jerwood Foundation would normally support an older age group, the commitment to education in the wider sense made the training ship a relevant proposition. It also made a contribution to the well being of a large number of young people.

18/05/10