Nautic Africa launches bespoke vessels for Nigerian owner

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Featuring significant upgrades to meet the vessel owner’s requirements, Nautic Africa, a Paramount Group company, launched two new bespoke 35m Sentinel vessels in Table Bay Harbour last week. The vessels were custom designed and manufactured for a Nigerian logistics provider.

Nautic’s latest builds, Augustina II and Princess Ebikenie, are capable of top speeds of 29 knots, and can reach 26 knots when fully fuelled – even with the weight of additional ballistic panelling throughout the deck level.

The aluminium-hulled 108-tonne vessels have been designed with versatility in mind and feature a number of significant improvements to Nautic’s standard Sentinel model.

Both vessels are capable of staying at sea with a full crew and security team complement of 16 to 18 people for four weeks at a time, without refuelling, when conducting a security patrol or escort function.

This capability is facilitated by the four main fuel tanks and day tank with a combined capacity of 56 000 litres. In addition, a large walk-in fridge and freezer provide capacity to produce 3 000 litres of water a day using the on-board desalination plant.

Enhancements for PLC alarm monitoring and tank level sensing are accomplished throughout the vessel via colour human machine interface (HMI) touch screens.

Six CCTV cameras feed directly to the captain and chief engineer’s cabins, as well as to the bridge. This, coupled with the intercom system, gives the crew the ability to communicate well in any emergency. The captain is also able to view the chart plotter display in his cabin.

Built for versatility

A fire-fighting pump further increases the versatility of the platforms. Coupled to the forward side of the centre engine via a main crank shaft PTO (power take off), the pumps are able to deliver 1200 m^3/hour of seawater on to a vessel, shore or rig fire. Capable of propelling a jet of seawater 120 metres and 45 metres high, the vessel is able to combat fires at a safe distance.

The Augustina II, the OPV version of the Sentinel, is fitted with one of Nautic’s Guardian craft. This fast interception craft can be launched in under 90 seconds from the aft deck in emergency or threat situations. The inclusion of the high-speed guardian interceptor provides state-of-the-art equipment to satisfy far-reaching independent control of patrolling duties.
In addition, the surveillance capacities of the Augustina II are enhanced with the fitment of a 92-nautical mile range S-Band Radar. This technology gives the crew the ability to detect objects in areas during heavy rainstorms – a capability critical to the equatorial waters where she will be operational.

Outfitted for safety during crew transfers, Princess Ebikenie features a ‘ballistically’ protected crew transfer seating area containing 40 IMO (International Maritime Organisation) rated seats. Access at the forward section of the seating area provides entry to the vessel’s bow, which has been specifically designed for the safe transfer of crew via platform-access ladders.

To facilitate safe docking and transfers, two 35kW electric bow thrusters have been fitted, providing redundancy and fine bow control in windy conditions or areas with strong currents.

The vessels are expected to arrive in Nigeria on 25 August 2015.