VESSEL REVIEW | Ocean Angel – Firefighting and rescue landing craft delivered to Thai marina operator

Ocean Marina Jomtien, a marina resort complex based in eastern Thailand's Chonburi province, has taken delivery of a new aluminium workboat built by Thai/Australian shipbuilder SeaCat Ships.

Named Ocean Angel, the craft will be used on duties such as towing, firefighting, sewage pump-out, search and rescue (SAR), buoy and marker handling, and general support for marina activities. Seacat Ships' sister company SeaSpeed Designs developed the boat from the outset to be a multi-functional platform, allowing Ocean Marina Jomtien to provide the same range of support services even with fewer vessels in its fleet.

Compact multi-role platform

The workboat has an LOA of 9.6 metres (31.4 feet), a beam of 3.5 metres (11.4 feet), a draught of only 0.4 metres (1.3 feet), a displacement of three tonnes (2.95 tons), and capacity for up to 2.5 tonnes (2.46 tons) of assorted payloads.

The centre console workboat features SeaCat Ships' proprietary heavy duty landing craft design, which satisfies the rigorous Australian domestic commercial vessel guidelines (NSCV class 2C for a passenger vessel). The coxswain is protected by a canvas T-top cover supplied by Sunbrella.

The helm station equipment includes a Simrad display, a Ritchie compass, and an ICOM radio.

Twin Suzuki 104kW (140hp) four-stroke outboard engines will propel the workboat to a maximum speed of 32 knots. At a cruising speed of 20 knots, the vessel can cover 175 nautical miles, which translates into considerable endurance for working in marina waters for sustained periods.

Ideal for general support tasks

The new workboat features a bow ramp/door that can be used in loading and offloading of cargo and personnel at beaches as well as SAR, allowing rescued survivors to be easily brought on board as the deck is at waterline level. Also fitted are a firefighting pump with hoses and specialised equipment for facilitating the pump-out of blackwater tanks from other boats berthed at the marina.

The boat can also service moorings holding port and starboard navigational marks to ensure greater safety in the marina and in nearby waters. The 2.5-tonne payload capacity and the landing capability allow the boat to provide transportation support for barbecues and other leisure activities taking place on the beachfront.