Commercial RIB builder MST (Marine Specialised Technology) has recently delivered a specialist RIB for the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee to carry onboard its Fishery Patrol Vessel FPV Cranogwen.
This new addition to the Fishery Protection Fleet in South Wales will be on patrol from Cardiff to Cardigan.
In order to provide a superior working platform and increased deck space, this MST 5.4m RIB has a beam of 2.45m – appreciably more than SWSFC’s current RIB that it is replacing.
This new MST RIB is powered by a Volvo Penta D3-160DPS 160hp inboard diesel driving a Volvo Penta DPS (duo prop) stern drive via a jackshaft – and achieves a maximum speed of 34 knots. A 100l anti condensation polyethylene fuel tank provides three hours endurance at full throttle. The craft is fitted with state of the art electronics to aid the duties of the Fishery Officers. Layout design has taken into account crew comfort as well as enforcement.
To facilitate fast launching (and recovering) from its mother ship, this MST RIB has a single point lift using a spreader beam. This has been specially arranged so that the replacement of SWSFC’s existing petrol outboard powered Avon Searider can be achieved with minimal adjustment (and hence cost) to the existing davits.
The SWSFC’s new MST RIB is to MCA Workboat Code Cat.3 and certified to carry four crew members. Its operational weight (excluding crew) is 1400kg (with full fuel).
Its design has been developed as a shortened version of MST’ well-proven 620 WORKBOAT model, which is in service with Navies and other professional users around the world.
