Jianglong Shipbuilding of China has launched the first of two fish farm support workboats in a series.
The vessel boasts a catamaran design, steel and aluminium construction, an LOA of 20.95 metres (68.73 feet), a beam of 12 metres (39 feet), a depth of 5.1 metres (17 feet), a hybrid propulsion system, and single-person cabin accommodation for up to eight crewmembers.
The vessel was built to be able to withstand low temperatures, making it suitable for operation in remote fish farm sites found in higher latitudes such as those in Norway. Jianglong Shipbuilding said the boat is ideal for use in fisheries and other high-intensity operations in complex waters, providing favourable protection for fish farming.
The aft deck has a total area of approximately 150 square metres (1,600 square feet) and will be capable of transporting assorted payloads of up to 80 tons. For loading and unloading of cargo, the workboat relies on two HS Marine fully rotating cranes.
The other deck equipment consists of a winch, towing pins, a stern roller, a shark jaw, and a mooring lock from MBH. Some of the equipment can be controlled remotely via joystick from the wheelhouse.
The wheelhouse itself has reverse-angled windscreens to help reduce glare when seen from the helm station. These also enable the crew to minimise dependence on wipers when navigating in inclement weather.
The electric propulsion system consisting of three Volvo Penta D13 generators, two Helseth propellers and a 1,440kWh battery pack can deliver a bollard pull of approximately 20 tons and a top speed of 11 knots when not carrying cargo.
Two 74kW bow thrusters will meanwhile provide additional lateral manoeuvrability for berthing, unberthing, and transiting through restrictive waters.
The navigation and communication electronics include a radar, an autopilot and an echosounder from Furuno, an Olex chartplotter, and a Sailor VHF radio.
The electronics also draw power from the Volvo Penta generators.
