Parkol Marine has teamed up with North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NEIFCA) to develop a first-of-its kind new survey and patrol vessel, developed in partnership with naval architect Chartwell Marine.
The as-yet unnamed is predicted to boost the NEIFCA’s capabilities and is due to be commissioned in the Spring of 2025. Nine years in the planning, this will be the fourth generation of inshore fisheries patrol vessel, with a heritage going back to 1890 when the then Sea Fisheries Committee was established.
The new NEIFCA vessel will be built at the Parkol yard in Whitby.
‘We’re absolutely delighted to have been granted this opportunity, which represents a number of firsts for Parkol Marine – it is the first catamaran, the first government tender that the company has won and is the first workboat of this type. It is also the first time we have worked with Chartwell Marine and their innovative style of ship design,’ said Parkol’s commercial director Sally Atkinson.
The new vessel will replace the current North Eastern Guardian III (NEG III), marks a major milestone for North Eastern IFCA (NEIFCA) and will boast a number of firsts, combining to make it faster, more environmentally-friendly and capable of providing the kind of detailed data on the area’s marine life which has not been possible up to now.
‘The contract provides us with an opportunity to nurture homegrown skills with our existing aluminium welders/fabricators, and also to recruit dedicated aluminium specialists and an apprentice utilising our established apprenticeship programme. It’s also the first competitive public tender we’ve bid for and to have won it is a fantastic achievement,‘ Sally Atkinson said.
‘There is an increasing amount of optimism in the UK fishing and shipbuilding industries and we’re delighted to be part of that, working with new suppliers to increase our already-significant knowledge and experience and hopefully creating more job opportunities and further expanding our skill base.’
The new vessel will have a 24.50-metre overall length with an 8.87-metre beam, and is to be built in accordance with UK Workboat Code Edition 2, with consideration given to UK Workboat Code Edition 3 wherever possible, and built under survey by UK certifying authority MECAL. Its hull structure is being designed in accordance with Lloyd Register LRSSC or Bureau Veritas scantling requirements.
Construction will be in aluminium, making it more fuel-efficient and capable of carrying heavier cargo loads than the current North Eastern Guardian III. The design includes an IMO tier 3-compliant engine generating 87% less nitrous oxide emissions and providing a top speed of over 20 knots.
It will be able to carry up to 27 tonnes of cargo, including analytical equipment, rigid inflatable craft for high-speed patrols, and confiscated stock and equipment where necessary, and will have a dedicated wet lab enabling NEIFCA personnel, scientists and environmentalists to analyse samples in the field.
Acoustic systems will include multi-beam echo sounders to provide ultra-accurate 3D images of the seabed and underwater activity, with its slow cruising capability enabling it to travel noiselessly and minimise disruption to digital image capture and marine life when assessing seabed biodiversity.
Mission changeover equipment is expected to allow the crew to switch seamlessly between patrol and survey modes, for maximum capability.
