Ship building and marine solutions company Nautic Africa has launched its new 35m Sentinel multi-role vessels (MRVs). The vessels have been designed and built in South Africa to meet growing African market demand for high quality, value for money and versatile MRVs.
Nautic Africa’s CEO James Fisher says: “MRVs have become an essential component in the maritime security operations of several African countries, requiring vessels capable of performing diverse operations – from patrolling and crew transfer duties to combating oil spills, firefighting and dealing with security threats.”
Greg Wessels, planning and project manager for Nautic Africa, said: “The 35m Sentinel design is based on client and market requirements.”
It features, among others:
* A 5083 aluminium hull and deck structure (the double aluminium hull structure has life span of 30+ years);
* A sharp, underwater bow shape and a triple-engine configuration, which allows the vessel to sail at speeds of between 25 and 28 knots, even in adverse weather conditions and with a full load (192 tons);
* A deep vee-shaped hull that reduces overall displacement, effectively lowering fuel consumption by at least 20% compared to similar steel vessels;
* A bridge fitted with Nautic’s patented Super-Shield ballistic structure (offering protection against small arms fire);
* A large cargo deck that can accommodate provisions for missions of up to 28 days;
* Comfortable accommodation for up to 20 crew; and
* Space for up to two boarding boats, such as Nautic’s Guardian 850BR, a single-point, davit-launched, aluminium Rigid Hull Foamcollar Boat (RHFB) interception vessel that can reach speeds of up to 45 knots, accommodate up to 10 crew members and cover a range of approximately 200 nautical miles.
Nautic Africa currently has 14 Sentinel MRVs in various stages of production. An additional 100 new jobs were created to accommodate the vessel orders. The first two MRVs will be delivered in October/November 2014 following rigorous testing to ensure full compliance with ISO classification standards and flag state authority requirements. Testing also includes training of the client’s crew and maintenance team.
According to Wessels: “Each 35m Sentinel is custom-built and complements Nautic’s focus on offering clients an appropriate, all-encompassing and lasting maritime solution and after-sales support that ensures vessels remain 100% operational at all times.”
