The Martinez shipyard at Saint Cyprien in southern France has delivered a unique 18 metre LOA, 8.50 metre beam catamaran for Sète fishing company Armement Avallone.
The GRP-hulled Deux Frères VI is designed for longlining and also for some small-scale purse seine (lampara) fishing, and the design is also fully suited to wind farm support roles with a 100 square metre deck space aft of the forward wheelhouse.
The catamaran is the first if its kind to use retractable T-foil technology to provide better stability and to boost speed when shifting between fishing areas, as well as improved manoeuvrability, and a central semi-hull absorbs pitching and heaving.
A detailed hydrodynamic study was carried out by naval architect Bureau Mauric to calculate the resistance of the hulls, using a high-capacity computer and CFD simulation software. A system of interceptors built into the hulls controls the aspect of the vessel when underway.
With a pair of 600hp Caterpillar C18 main engines, Deux Frères VI can achieve a 20-knot speed and the catamaran has a 9000-litre fuel capacity. There are three hydraulic cranes and a winch on board. It is built to work with a crew of seven.
The Martinez yard has specialised for many years in building in GRP and Deux Frères VI is the 88th newbuild from the yard in its 46 years. Martinez has a long background of building a variety of fishing vessels, including specialised purse seiners, in addition to pleasure craft, passenger vessels and numerous workboats.
