Altantic Salmon producer Greig Seafood Shetland Ltd has placed an order for a new Meercat DeckMax MRV aquaculture workboat for its Scottish fisheries operations.
This 15-metre vessel steel monohull is the first of Meercat’s newest range of multirole vessels, the Meercat DeckMax MRV, featuring deck layout configuration providing maximised space for cargo and greater accessibility.
Grieg Seafood Shetland Ltd (GSFSH) operates hatcheries, grow-up out and processing sites in Shetland and the Isle of Skye.
The new vessel will be operating in Skye, handling, and supporting aquaculture management and production, as well as general harbour support duties.
“We chose Meercat Boats as they are highly regarded, and we believe they are the best workboats in their fieldoffered the best solution for our specific need in Skye. The new Meercat will be highly suitable to the task, as she is being customised to precisely match our specific requirements. I have been very impressed with Meercat’s ability to tailor their vessel to meet our needs,” said Grant Cumming, Greig Seafood Shetland’s Managing Director.
The Meercat DeckMax MRV (multirole vessel) design has a raised wheelhouse, provides excellent visibility, and allows for greater use of the deck space. The DeckMax is 15.75m in length with a 6.7m beam, and has a shallow draft of just 1.3m while having a carrying capacity of up to 27 tonnes.
It also features a 5-tonne bollard pull. The Meercat will be powered by Doosan 285hp, supported by a BETA 21kVA generator and an EFFER 275-6S crane, and will be coded to MCA Category 3 allowing it to operate up to 20 miles offshore.
“Meercat Boats are regularly seen operating at salmon fisheriesin salmon farming, due to their versatility and robustness, therefore we are delighted that Greig Seafood has selected the Meercat DeckMax for their next vessel, as it is ideal for the role,” commented John Buck of Southampton-based Meercat Boats.
