The 20.45 metre Svitzer Merlin is a repeat order for Southampton Marine Services, her earlier sister being the Middlesbrough-based Svitzer Leven. A multi-purpose harbour workboat the vessel will be delivered to Svitzer in Autumn. A member of the Maersk Group, Svitzer is a leading operator in its field with 440 vessels in 32 countries around the world.
Chris Norman, Managing Director of Southampton Marine Services, is delighted to be building a second workboat for Svitzer. “The repeat contract for Svitzer Merlin demonstrates the confidence Svitzer has in the quality of Southampton Marine Services work boats and reaffirms the skill and ‘can do’ ability of our team,” he says.
The Svitzer Merlin is broadly similar to her sister vessel, explains Keith Furlong, Port Manager at Milford Haven. “There have been some changes that were needed to better meet the demands of her anticipated employment in Milford Haven,” he says.
“At every turn, where we have requested a change from Southampton Marine Services, they have been very willing to make sure that these changes have been incorporated so that we get the very best value for money. In Milford Haven we are really looking forward to her delivery later in the summer,” says Mr Furlong.
Designed by Argyll Maritime Design Services the Svitzer Merlin will concentrate on general port collection work and recycling of waste from ships at the port of Milford Haven. She is a twin screw, pontoon style, shallow draft work vessel and with a small superstructure and wheelhouse on the portside aft, her large clear deck space will accommodate for 12 waste ‘skips’ and several pallets.
Principal Particulars
Builder: Southampton Marine Services, Ocean Quay, Southampton, United Kingdom
Design: Argyll Maritime Design Services
Length: 20.45 metres
Breadth: 7.5 metres
Propulsion: 2 x Doosan MD196TI diesel main engines, each developing 320 bhp @235kW at 2,000 rpm.
Speed: 9.5 knots
