In 2011, the Irish Coastguard placed a contract with Delta Power Group (builder of Delta RIBs) to supply 12 highly specified RIBs as part of a five year program of replacements and updates in its extensive fleet of search and rescue craft.
Three 9.00m Delta RIBs, fitted with shockwave seating and Yamaha F225 Outboard motors, have already been delivered in 2011. As a follow-up to this delivery, the next installment in the contract is for seven slightly smaller RIBs – namely, one x DELTA 7.00m X, two x DELTA 7.50m Xs and four x DELTA 8.00m Super Xs. The demanding delivery schedule requested was just three months, with tests and trials throughout January, 2012.
This exciting contract forms part of the Irish Coast Guard’s new program, which will see the replacement of older Delta RIBs, first delivered in the early 1990s, as well as of more recently delivered boats supplied by competitors. The Irish Coast Guard comprises 54 Coast Guard units, covering the whole coast (encompassing the Irish Sea and Atlantic seaboard), so it needs a lot of rugged and reliable RIBs, which can fulfill search and rescue operations in the most demanding of conditions.
The new 7.00m and 7.50m craft are fitted with Yamaha F115 outboard motors; while the 8.00m craft come with Yamaha F150 outboards. All of the craft will exceed the client’s minimum top speed requirement of 36knots. Seating in the 7.00m and 7.50m craft comprises four Shockwave Shock Mitigating seat units and the 8.00m craft are fitted with six Shockwave Shock Mitigating Seat units, including two foldaway seat units. The 7.00m and 7.50m craft are certified for four persons and the 8.00m craft for 6 persons. Safety gear is in accordance with the MSO P6 passenger boat licensing and the MCA Small Commercial Vessel Code.
In common with other RIBs in the Delta range, the hull, sponsons and GRP deck fittings are all constructed ‘in house,’ thereby ensuring maximum quality control. Major fabrications (such as metalwork) are undertaken by specialist sub contractors, while the full fit out (including electronics and wiring) is carried out by Delta.