Wight Shipyard Delivers Catamaran for Scotland

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has delivered its latest vessel to Scottish tourism operator Loch Ness by Jacobite. The new 20-meter day-cruise passenger catamaran Jacobite Maverick is joining the company’s fleet sailing between Dochgarroch, just outside Inverness, Clansman Harbour and the ruins of Urquhart Castle.

Designed by Australia’s One2three Naval Architects, the hullform of the new catamaran is engineered to provide through-life efficiency with low structural weight assisting lower fuel consumption, the builder said.

The vessel is powered by two Scania DI9 main engines, each producing 257kW at 2,100 rpm. Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 15 knots, the vessel will cruise at 12 knots on Loch Ness further slowing to 5 knots in the Caledonian Canal.

Jacobite Maverick accommodates 200 passengers who board over the forward and aft decks. The aft deck seats 13 passengers while the foredeck has 15 seats and is fitted with hinged boarding ramps. Passengers enter a cabin with seating arrangements for 102 passengers. Bench seating finished in the company’s own tartan is complemented by oak tables manufactured by the shipyard. There is also provision for securing two wheelchairs in the cabin and throughout, all passengers can view 32” flat screen televisions showing the depths below. On the upper deck, outdoor seating is provided for 84 passengers aft of the elevated wheelhouse.

“The Loch Ness by Jacobite order was announced in September last year and came only a matter of days after the confirmation of a repeat Red Funnel order which itself followed the delivery to MBNA Thames Clippers of two 35 meter low-wash river catamarans for London,” said Wight Shipyard Co CEO Peter Morton, who noted that the vessel mark’s the shipyard’s first order for Scotland.

“Loch Ness by Jacobite is seeing incredible growth and last year we welcomed almost 300,000 passengers onto the waters of Loch Ness,” said Freda Newton, Managing Director of Loch Ness by Jacobite. “The new catamaran built by Wight Shipyard Co continues our investment in Loch Ness by Jacobite, our people and our fleet so we can offer the very best visitor experience.”

Jacobite Maverick (Photo: Wight Shipyard)Length Overall: 21.34m
Length Waterline: 20.24m
Beam Molded: 7.6m
Load Draught: 1.9m
Deadweight: 20.83 metric tons
Classification: Lloyd’s Register A1 SSC Catamaran Zone 2 (MSN1823) Cat C Waters LMC DNVGL 2017 LC R4 Passenger
Flag Certification: Domestic MSN1823 Passenger MCA UK Cat C
Fuel: 2 x 2,000 liters
Fresh Water: 1 x 500 liters
Sullage: 1 x 1,500 liters
Passengers: 200
Main engines: Two Scania DI9 marine diesel engines, each producing 257kW at 2,100 rpm
Fuel: 70 l/hr (total) at 12 knots fully loaded
Gearboxes: Two Twin Disc MGX 5114 SC
Propulsion: Two fixed pitch, 5-bladed propellers
Generators: 2 x 30kW Kabota engines powering 2 x Beta Marine generators, 33kVa 230V 50 Hz single phase