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Blyth Workcats News

18 Feb 2016

UKEF Support Brings Success for Blyth

An export win by Blyth Workcats and UK Export Finance, made possible by the government’s export finance support. The project – to supply a purpose built catamaran for a German University research program – went ahead thanks to the support of UK Export Finance, the UK’s export credit agency. It stepped in to share some of the financing risk with Blyth’s bank, enabling the export to go ahead, where it otherwise would not. Blyth Workcats, which produces catamarans for the UK and in a growing number of overseas markets, won the contract in December 2015. The additional finance was required due to the German buyer’s requirement for an advance payment bond, which can be a common challenge for exporters.

22 Sep 2015

UK's First Boat with Duplex Silicone Coating

A Blyth Workcat patrol boat nearing completion for the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries Conservation Area (KEIFCA) has become the first vessel in the UK to be treated with Duplex fouling release. The silicone coating is manufactured by Fuji Smart Surfaces and was chosen by KEIFCA for its new 17-metre boat, the FPV Nerissa, because it is able to prevent the adhesion of fouling without the use of toxins that would be harmful to the fisheries. It also provides the benefit of a long lifespan that eliminates the need for the boat to be regularly hoisted-out for fresh coats of antifouling to be applied. This saving in operational costs will…

17 Jun 2015

Blyth Workcats Wins ABP Survey Boat Contract

At the Seawork International Exhibition in Southampton, Blyth Workcats Ltd announced that Associated British Ports (ABP) has awarded it the contract for a new 14-metre survey vessel to be built at the company’s yard on Canvey Island, Essex, UK. The new boat will be based on one of Blyth Workcats’ established survey craft models but built to a bespoke design detailed to meet the specific requirements of ABP’s hydrographic surveyors. The vessel will be based in Hull and used for survey operations throughout the Rivers Humber, Ouse and Trent, covering the ports of Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham. ABP’s four Humber ports together handle more than 65 million tonnes of cargo annually.

07 May 2015

Blyth Workcats to showcase Catamaran Designs at Seawork

The design evolution of Blyth Workcats will be on display at Seawork on Stand B27 where the company will be showing examples from its versatile range. Well known for their robust seaworthiness and economical performance, workboats from this well-established Essex yard are able to perform tasks that range from fisheries patrol, wind farm support, surveying, dive support, passenger ferry, fishing charter and general harbour maintenance activities. With a range consisting of 10, 11, 12, 14, 18 and 20-metre catamarans all Blyth Workcats are constructed from GRP to offer important advantages over metal-hulled boats including lower running costs and a much lower purchase price.

06 May 2015

Blyth Workcats Delivers Aqualink

Aqualink (Photo: Blyth Workcats)

The first two-deck boat ever built by Blyth Workcats has recently been delivered to a customer in Belgium. The 18-meter Aqualink is the first Blyth Workcat to feature a high bridge and it has now entered service with Ostend Marine Services for which it has been designed to undertake a wide range marine operations. These include work as a charter survey vessel while also being equipped with an Ocean 3 bow fender and wide foredeck that enable it to undertake crew transfer and cargo delivery to offshore wind farms.

05 Aug 2014

Blyth Workcats Delivers New Dive Boat

Laura Dean is a new 11-meter dive boat for the Mevagh Dive Center (Photo courtesy of Blyth Workcats)

Blyth Workcats of Canvey Island, U.K. has delivered a new 11-meter dive boat to the Mevagh Dive Center in County Donegal on the west coast of Ireland. The new boat has now begun work transporting groups of up to 12 divers to sites along the Atlantic coast of Ireland where numerous wrecks make it an interesting but challenging region for recreational divers. The Laura Dean is powered by two Iveco N67 420 hp engines and features a hull design developed for optimal performance while…

04 Mar 2014

KEIFCA Orders Blyth Workcat Patrol Boat

Image: Blyth Workcat

The Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (KEIFCA) placed a contract for a 17-meter GRP Blyth Workcat for use when monitoring fishing activities around the Kent and Essex coasts. The new boat is being built to meet the exact requirements of KEIFCA which has specified a durable craft capable of operating in extreme offshore conditions while undertaking a wide range of tasks relating to the monitoring of fish stocks and the supervision of fishing activities.

15 Jan 2014

Blyth Workcat Joins Osiris Projects Survey Fleet

Proteus of Liverpool

A new 14-meter catamaran has been delivered to coastal survey specialists Osiris Projects by leading GRP workboat builders Blyth Workcats. The new boat, named Proteus of Liverpool, has been custom-built at the Blyth Workcats yard on Canvey Island, U.K., to provide a fast yet stable and comfortable working platform for coastal survey work. The boat has been fitted with a range of high specification sonar and acoustic positioning systems that will provide the company’s clients with high quality survey data enhanced by the stability of the new boat.

30 Oct 2013

New Blyth Workcat for Baltic Survey Work

Illustration showing the Nordic Sonar which is currently under construction

Finnish survey company FCG (Finnish Consulting Group) Ltd. has placed an order for a new GRP survey boat from Blyth Workcats Ltd of Canvey Island, U.K. The 14-meter catamaran will be known as the Nordic Sonar and it is now being built to meet the specialized needs of the FCG survey teams. It will be based in Turku, Finland and is being fitted with comprehensive heating system and insulation suitable for its use in the demanding conditions around the Finnish coast and the northern Baltic.

22 Oct 2013

Blyth Workcat Begins Dolphin Viewing Trips off Gibaltar

Cruise ship passengers and tourists stopping in Gibraltar now have the opportunity to view the region’s dolphins and marine life from the comfort of a new Blyth Workcat. The 14-meter GRP-hulled boat has been acquired by Dive Charters Ltd. who own and operate Dolphin Adventure one of Europe’s largest dolphin watching organizations. The new Dolphin Adverturer II which can carry up to 70 passengers, has joined her sister ship Dolphin Adventurer which is a 50 seat 12-meter Blyth Workcat.

07 Nov 2012

New Design for 17 Meter Blyth Workcat

UK boat builder Blyth Workcats has extended its model range with a new design for the recently launched 17-mworkboat. By relocating the wheel house onto a second upper deck, the company is expecting that the 17-mHigh Bridge will be recognized as a practical and economical option for wind farm support vessel operators. The first 17-mboat from Blyth Workcats was launched in May and since then it has been praised by its owners Wildcat Marine for its practical design and economical running costs.

05 Jul 2012

Wildcat Takes Delivery of Blyth 17m Workcat

Wildcat Marine Co-Owner Dr Omar Namor (left) Receives Their Blyth 17 From Ray Chuter, Blyth Workcats' Production Director

Windfarm support company Wildcat Marine has taken delivery of the first 17-metre Blyth Workcat. The new boat was handed-over in Southampton, UK, and is now based in Barrow in Furness from where it is currently providing support services for the Walney Wind Farm. The new boat, “Wildcat 3”, is the largest catamaran ever built by Blyth Workcats and the company is confident that it will introduce a new standard of performance and economy for the wind farm support industry. The new 17-metre boat is the third Blyth Workcat to be owned by Wildcat Marine.

12 Jun 2012

Low Fuel Consumption for Blyth 17-Meter Confirmed

The low fuel consumption predictions made by engineers from MAN Diesel for the first Blyth 17-metre Workcat have now been confirmed at 130 litres per hour per engine at maximum speed of 26+ knots and 79 litres per hour at cruising speed of 20 knots. The initial computer assessments were made during new boat’s sea trials but these have now been confirmed by two sustained sea voyages. The figures were verified following the new boat’s voyage from Canvey Island to Southampton to attend the Seawork exhibition.