Alicat Workboats Ltd launched its second vessel, the Gardian 2, from its base on Southtown Road, Great Yarmouth.
The new vessel was blessed by the Port Chaplain Rev Peter Paine at a service attended by directors and associates of the Gardline Group parent company of Alicat Workboats.
The Gardian 2 is a 21.5m multi-purpose vessel ideally suited for turbine transfers for operation and maintenance crew, as well as providing a platform for marine mammal and bird surveys and mitigation work. The first Alicat Workboat, Gardian 1 was extremely well received when she was launched in June at the Sea Works Boat Show in Southampton.
Steve Thacker, Alicat Workboats General Manager commented: “Delivering the second vessel is huge achievement for us and important to the future of Alicat Workboats. It is very much a credit to skills and hard work of our workforce”.
Both vessels have been purchased by Gardline Environmental Ltd which has been awarded four wind farm support vessel contracts by Visser and Smit Marine Contracting (VSMC) – a company specialising in subsea cable installation for the power and renewables industry. A further two vessels are already under construction by Alicat Workboats and due to be delivered in the coming months.
The launch of the new vessel demonstrates the role that Great Yarmouth has to play in the offshore renewables market. Existing skills and experience are being used in this fast growing market.