Cape Town-based Veecraft Marine has built and delivered the 'Benreoch', a 30-metre wave piercing catamaran utility craft. The vessel was developed specifically for crew transfer to offshore platforms in Nigeria.
At 30.3m in length and 8.5m in beam, 'Benreoch' is 2.7m longer and 1m wider than her predecessors, 'Topaz Zenith' and 'Topaz Zephyr'. The larger platform has been used to increase the aft working deck capacity, with a 53m2 cargo area and rescue boat and crane. The aft deck is large enough to carry 3.4-metre and 6.1-metre containers in various configurations, and is fitted with a 6.1-metre self-contained accommodation module that houses eight special personnel.
Inside the main deck cabin is seating for 22 passengers in large, comfortable forward-facing seats. A captain's cabin with ensuite is fitted on the main deck, as are a four-person cabin and six-person cabin, each with their own bathroom.
A galley and mess are fitted to starboard, as well as a small laundry. Stairs adjacent lead to the upper deck wheelhouse and to the hulls, housing a twin cabin each.
The wheelhouse has ballistic protection and features forward and aft-facing control stations and excellent visibility over the cargo deck and foredeck, enhanced by high windows and blinds forward and aft, offering clear visibility for personnel and cargo transfer or fire-fighting duties.
A unique benefit of the wave piercer hull allows the vessel's bow to interface cleanly with the offshore platform, while being well clear in all other areas to avoid risk of hull damage and crush injuries. To eliminate the risk of damage to the forepeaks or having the hull hang up on structures, the vessel's bows are well back from the outline of the foredeck.
The vessel offers excellent functionality and enhanced safety, while retaining the wave piercer's speed and offshore capabilities.
Fitted with a pair of Caterpillar C32 Acert main engines, each producing 1,081kW, 'Benreoch' has a cruising speed of 26 knots and a maximum speed of 30 knots.