Southampton Marine Services wins aquaculture support vessel contract from Malta

Shipbuilder SMS Southampton has won a contract to build a 24-metre aquaculture vessel for a tuna farm operator in Malta.

This latest vessel has 24 metres LOA, 8.5m beam, and a three-metre draught.  She will be built to the MCA-MGN-280-Catergory 1 (150nm from safe haven) workboat code.

The vessel is expected to be delivered to the owner mid-summer 2019.  Her principle purpose will be tuna harvesting and aquaculture logistical and maintenance support.

Main engines are two Caterpillar Acert 18s of 448kW at 1,800rpm, powering four-blade propellers via ZF 560W inline gearboxes.