PRESS RELEASE AUTUM 2006.

CONTRACT AWARD FOR TWO NEW INTERCEPTOR 42 'PILOT BOATS' FOR THE PORT OF DUBLIN

After an international tender process, Safehaven Marine have  been awarded the contract to supply two Interceptor 42 Pilot boats to the Port of Dublin, Ireland. The two new craft will replace the ports old Aquastar 42’s.  The contract was awarded after the Dublin pilots undertook sea trials off Cork Harbour in severe storm force 9 conditions and 10m seas in the recently supplied ‘Gleann Mor’, Cork harbours new Interceptor 42 Pilot boat. They were hugely impressed with her rough weather sea keeping, even when being engulfed by huge breaking seas she maintained composure, and imparted confidence in all aboard, especially inspiring was her directional stability in following seas, whilst her deep V hull meant her motions into head seas was soft with zero slamming.  Now in service the Cork Pilot vessel has proved highly commendable, Michael Mc Carthy, the Ports Harbourmaster commented:

“The Gleann Mor has been tested in service during severe gale force 9 conditions and her handling both running into and ahead of the weather is reassuringly controllable. We also find that due to her twin chine hull design, spray suppression is very effective and visibility is exceptional, the deck with its high freeboard also remains very dry. During ship boarding in rough conditions her design makes a very stable platform for the Pilot and assists the coxswain in coming away from vessels.

Throughout the construction period we found management, staff and contractors to be extremely knowledgeable, flexible and co-operative and the numerous minor alterations accepted due to our practical experience in pilotage matters. The Ports specification on strength of design was very specific and we are very satisfied with the end result with one of the strongest pilot hulls on the market”.

                                     Below, The first vessel is under construction with the hull and superstructure nearly completed

The Port of Dublin ’s vessel will incorporate a number of small design changes to accommodate the specific requirements of the port. The vessel will have the same central helm position, facilitating boarding on the side most suited to the prevailing conditions, a feature that has proved very popular with the Cork Harbour coxswains. Her operational speed will be 23kts on heavyweight 18,000kg displacement. One of the things that Seamus Mc Clouglin, the ports Head of Operations found most impressive about the Interceptors design was her massive build strength, huge 150mm x 150mm transverse framing and substantial knees at the hull to deck join ensures that the likelihood of any structural damage occurring during normal operation is remote. This heavy build strength also translates in to a heavy displacement giving the vessel a very solid feel in the water and is especially beneficial when coming alongside with steadier, slower motions than would be felt in a lighter, and correspondingly livelier craft. The vessel is to be fitted with specialized coxswain identification system and impact / damage data logging hardware. A swipe card system will log on individual crew identification allowing the port an accurate record of who is control of the craft at any one time. In addition, a data logging system is to be designed with GPS monitoring of speed, position, course and time. It is connected to a 6 axis accelerometer with individual impact sensors fitted on the vessels hull structure. The data logger will continuously record data when predetermined impact thresholds are exceeded. This will effectively become a ‘black box’ system similar to that used in the aircraft industry and allow the port to download and determine data corresponding to any impact damage. In addition the engines are to be fitted with a number of unique features such as remote monitoring of the engines operating parameters from a shore based station, 3 minute cool down on the engines when switched off preventing turbo damage, and engine stand heaters, all of which is designed to prolong engine life.

This represents an industry first for a sophisticated data logging and remote monitering system to be used in a pilot craft, and demonstrates Safehaven Marines ability explore new technologies. The first vessel is due for delivery in Spring 2007 with the second craft in the Autum of 2007.

PORT OF LIVERPOOL ORDER A WILDCAT 40 AS THEIR NEW SURVEY VESSEL

The Port of Liverpool has awarded the contract to supply a new Survey vessel to Safehaven Marine. After an International tender process Safehaven Marines Wildcat Catamaran was chosen. Ian Holden, the Ports Hydrographic Manager opted for a twin hull design as a result of the ports intention to use sophisticated multi beam sonar equipment. The deployment of the valuable sonar head and its subsequent protection made the choice of catamaran a logical step, as by deploying the sonar head through a moon pool in the bridge deck, at the vessels LGG means it is fully protected between the twin hulls, and being at the centre of the craft, pitch and heel motions are minimised, maximising the accuracy of colleted data. The sonar head can be raised through the moon pool hatch for fast transit speeds of 20kts.

Ian Holden visited the port of Teesport , Middlesborough to trial their own recently supplied Wildcat catamaran the ‘Tees Navigator’. After a demonstration, and subsequent discussions with Teesport, it was clear that they were very happy with the Wildcats performance, especially her sea keeping and course keeping abilities, and in Safehaven Marine as abilities as builders to adapt and find solutions. Their past record was no doubt instrumental in choosing Safehaven’s Wildcat as the Port of Liverpool ’s new survey vessel.

After visiting Safehaven’s yard in Ireland a final specification was prepared. It was decided to use the newly developed 40ft version of the Wildcat Catamaran, in which the vessels length has been increased to 12m. This will give an improvement to the Wildcats already excellent sea keeping, as well as increasing the aft cockpit area. The vessel will feature Caterpillar 3126 350hp main engines providing a maximum speed of 25kts. A 10kva generator will provide onboard power for the surveying equipment. The vessel will be very luxuriously fitted out to provide a comfortable environment for the crew. The central helm position especially has been carefully designed to allow long, fatigue free periods at the helm providing a ‘car like’ driving position, and avoiding the old practice of having the helmsman hunched uncomfortably over the wheel. The surveying station will be very ‘user friendly’ helped no end by the catamarans ability to provide a spacious accommodation area due to her wide beam.

In addition she will be fitted with an Opacmare marine crane with 360 degree rotation and an extending jib, the crane will be fitted onto the transom quarter and allow loading and unloading of deck cargo. A stainless steel 'A' frame will be fitted at the transom to allow deployment of surveying equipment and a dive platform will allow easy acces to the waterline.   The vessel is now under construction with her hull nearing completion. Her contracted delivery is June 2007.

 NEW WILDCAT 40 MOULD NEARING COMPLETION

Below, the existing hull has been extended by 1m bringing the length to just under 40ft. The mould is now being built and will allow us to significantly decrease build time on the Wildcat as well as offering much better quality of mouldings.

 This dramatic shot shows an existing completed 36 hull being turned over to allow lengthening and creating the one piece mould.

Below, the new one piece mould is nearly complete.

NEW ‘GENESIS 37 INTERCEPTOR’ IS LAUNCHED

We have just launched a new model, the Genesis 37 Interceptor. It is a completely new design and is a replacement for the old Interceptor 38 model. Called the 'Genesis' she will commence production this Autumn. Closely based on the companies hugely successful Interceptor 42’s hull, but incorporating a number of refinements to provide even higher levels of performance and seakeeping. Her beam is a wide 12ft 6” just 10" short of the 42’s beam, and much wider than the old 38’s, providing her with high levels of both static and dynamic stability. With a GM of 1.5m she has high reserves of stability over an anticipated large displacement range, as indeed she will form the basis for a new 37’ft Pilot Boat to be offered alongside our current Interceptor 42 ‘Pilot Boat’. Her waterline entry has been made finer at 58 degrees to cut through waves even better, and she has the same midships deadrise of 22 degrees meaning she will not slam in large waves. And of course her steeply raked stem and cutaway forefoot means she has the same excellent handling in following seas. Her keel design has been optimized to provide the least drag and resistance with maximum directional stability. Because the Interceptor hull is a true deep V she has a deep draft at the bow and amidships naturally, so there is no need for a deep keel here, as her deep V sections act as a keel in itself. Only at the transom where her draft reduces is the keel needed and here it is deep. The keel’s hydrodynamics are optimized with the keel being integrally faired into the propeller tunnel, to provide a smooth, clean flow of water to the propeller, completely eliminating cavitation noise. In addition a stainless steel skeg protects the prop and rudder from ropes and floating debris.

The new hull will provide a higher speed and better fuel economy, an important consideration with today’s rising fuel costs. Her unique double chine hull design and multiple spray rails, foreshortened at the bow which combined with her high rise of chine at the bow, eliminates running noise from chine knock in choppy seas, and in addition makes her an exceptionally dry boat.

Her superstructure has been offset to port to allow a good wide and safe passage up the st/bd side to the fore deck, this makes perfect sense as generally you only ever come along side, to the side with your helm, st/bd in this case, so why waste valuable accommodation by providing a walkway up the port side that never gets used. This way you get the best of both worlds, safe foredeck access and maximum accommodation. The design takes advantage of

her wide beam in providing maximum gunwale space for angling, allowing anglers to fish from the full length of the craft when drifting. In addition she

features a large aft cockpit area with a flush deck which provides plenty of space, but still allows for a comfortable accommodation area. This can be

varied to suit her intended role as Safehaven Marine, being custom boat builders, will customize her cabin layout to her owners requirements.

Both long and short cabin versions are available. The vessel featured here is the extended cabin version which provides increased accommodation area

and greater luxury to her internal fit out. However all our craft are finished to a very high standard, even workboat versions feature high class

teak joinery, a fully lined and carpeted cabin throughout and top quality fittings. We specializes in electrical and electronic installation, as

well as high quality stainless steel railing fabrication, undertaking work throughout Ireland .

Powered by a Caterpillar C9 575hp engine, she achieved a maximum speed of 27kts on her heavily built 7,500kg displacement, with excellent fuel

economy when cruising at 16-18kts.  All Safehaven craft are strongly and heavily built to withstand the toughest conditions, the same Lloyds approved scantling and framing as used in their Pilot boat versions is, albeit smaller, employed in the new Genesis.

We allways try to back up our reputation for sea keeping with a set of exciting photographs which show the Genesis being sea trailed and videoed in

rough conditions. Her abilities in big head seas was amazing, even after being completely air borne to the point of showing her propeller, when coming

off the crest of a big wave, the landings were always soft and controlled. In following seas she was exceptionally good, her wide beam resisted roll and

yaw in quartering conditions making her very safe and controllable in surfing conditions with zero broaching tendencies. To top it all she must be one of

the most attractive designs around, encompassing Safehaven’s by now expected design flair, featuring the same graceful sheer line and aggressive bow

as other Interceptors, in a thoroughly modern looking design.

WAVE CROOKES 42 NEARING COMPLETION.

Waves new vessel, the 'VENTURER' an Interceptor 42 Sports flybridge version is nearing completion. Fitted with a single VOLVO D12 650hp engine, 6.5kva generator and a very sophisticated electronics package featuring Simrads Olex system sonar mapping equipment, she is going to be a very sophisticated craft. Wave will be operating her from Scarbourgh on the UK East coast as a charter vessel.

New 'GENESIS' demonstrator being built.

We are building a new demonstrator, it will be a Genesis 37 built to an exceptionally high specification. An extended cabin version with an all new Ash interior and featuring new materials. Fitted with twin Iveco M40 400hp engines and a smaller keel for maximom speed she should be good for over 30kts. She is going to be a classy black with a red stripe along her sheers and gloss black embelishments on her white cabin, she will be very striking.