Blyth Workcats to Build Dive Boat for Mevagh

Blyth Workcats of Canvey Island, U.K. will supply a new 11-meter dive boat to the Mevagh Dive Center for use in the Western Atlantic off County Donegal, Ireland, The catamaran, to be named the Laura Dean, is scheduled for delivery in April 2014. It will then begin work transporting groups of up to 12 recreational divers to dive sites in the region, many of which include the wrecks of ships sunk along the Irish coast.

The boat will be powered by two Iveco N67 420 hp engines each driving a five-bladed propeller through a twin disc gearbox. These will enable the boat to achieve speeds up to 23-knots or to cruise economically at 18-knots when it is expected to consume just 45 liters of fuel per hour. This is made possible by minimizing unnecessary weight while retaining strength and by the design of what will be a turquoise-colored Blyth Workcats hull. This has been developed to provide optimal performance through the water while also maintaining the company’s reputation for tough reliability and exceptional sea-keeping in extreme conditions. These features are seen as important benefits for the Dive Center’s customers and the boat will consequently receive Irish P5 certification for it to operate up to 60-miles offshore with the hull specified to LLR SSC G2 rules.

Accommodation for passengers and crew will consist of a wheelhouse and a small saloon seating area with a toilet and galley facilities. The bright orange wheelhouse roof will extend for 8-feet over the after deck where there will be fold-down stainless steel seating along each side and bench seating in the center and racks fitted for carrying divers’ air cylinders. An important feature for the dive center’s customers will be a hydraulic dive lift mounted on the transom. Access will be through a transom gate leading directly onto the after deck to ensure the easy deployment and recovery of divers.

The Mevagh Dive Center is located near Letterkenny in County Donegal. The business has grown steadily since it was established in 2004 and the new Blyth Workcat will be an integral part of its ongoing expansion. Operating out of Downings, the new boat will offer diving and angling excursions as well as providing sea safaris along the Atlantic coast. Mevagh Dive Center also has a purpose-built, heated sea water pool and supports the full range of PADI scuba dive courses. There is also bed and breakfast accommodation available at the center.

The 11-meter Blyth Workcat was chosen by the Mevagh Dive Center from a range consisting of 10, 11, 12, 14 and 17-meter catamarans that are built for all types of marine work. This includes wind farm support, surveying, passenger ferry, fishing charter or any other workboat tasks that require high performance and good sea-keeping combined with stability and extensive load carrying capability. All are built from GRP to offer important advantages over metal hulled boats such as lower running costs and a much lower initial outlay when buying the vessels. GRP boats also keep their good looks for longer and can also be built to provide strength where it is needed and valuable weight savings wherever the design permits it. The strength yet comparatively light weight of a Blyth Workcats GRP hull also enables smaller engines to be used. This results in greater economy and higher speeds which, due to carefully designed hull profiles and chines, improve handling and sea-keeping in extreme conditions. Hull lamination and construction is governed by meticulous quality control so the customer can benefit from a boat that has been built to exactly meet their requirements while enabling rugged strength and reinforcement to be applied where it is needed.

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