Freire Shipyard, has secured a contract from the leading UK marine contractor Briggs Marine for the design and construction of a new Maintenance Support Vessel.

This modern and efficient vessel is optimally configured to support Briggs’ ongoing contracts for the inspection, servicing and replacement of navigation marks and heavy inshore moorings, operating as required with an attendant onboard diving team.  The new building, is schedule for delivery in 2024. It will have 40m in length with a diesel-electric DP-2 propulsion system configured for maximum efficiency and designed for operations in UK and Northern European Waters. Crew comfort is important to Briggs and the vessel has excellent seakeeping and noise reduction features to enable 24/7 operations.  And will have a crew of 6 and accommodation for a further 10 project personnel.

Maximum flexibility has been built into the design to support a range of diving, survey and other maintenance support and project activities, without compromising the vessels’ primary role. Amongst other features the vessel is fitted with a moonpool, detachable A frame, 4-point mooring system and survey project office. In addition, a demountable Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) boarding ladder has been incorporated into the design to support offshore windfarm projects.

For Collieson Briggs, Managing Director, of Briggs Marine Contractors, “this latest vessel order further demonstrates Briggs’ commitment to maintaining its position as the UK’s nearshore marine experts. The vessel will further enhance our marine project support capability for both the growing renewables sector as well as the more traditional marine construction tasks upon which Briggs has built its solid reputation”.

Freire Shipyard considers that “it is a privilege to build a reference for the extensive fleet of an important company such as Briggs Marine and to be able to contribute to its reinforcement in the United Kingdom market with the construction of this Maintenance Support Vessel”.