BAE Systems has selected Meercat Boats for the refit of their specialist dive support vessel, which operates out of Portsmouth Naval Base in the UK.

Meercat, which is based at Hythe Marine Park, near Southampton, delivered the Meercat MRV15 bespoke dive multirole vessel for BAE Systems Ltd with funding from the Ministry of Defence, in 2015.

The refit will include the Meercat’s out of water five-year survey in accordance with the MCA’s MGM 280 Workboat Code. The work will include hull clean and preparation of painting, removal of props and shafts, cleaning of deck area, and also modification to deck equipment.

The Tedworth is operated by BAE Systems who use it for its specialist diving operations at Portsmouth Naval Base, being the home of the Royal Navy, for underwater maintenance, repairs and inspections on the Royal Navy’s vessels and installations and jetties.

Measuring 15m by 5.8m, she is a twin screw Meercat multi role vessel (MRV) with a draft of about 0.8m with a displacement of 42 tonnes. Her deck cargo capacity is 16 tonnes.

The Tedworth has twin Doosan L136Ti engines with a 33Kva generator and a three-phase compressor, achieving 460hp in total with a free running speed of 9.5 knots. Tedworth’s AMCO-VEBA crane is capable of lifting 790kg at 14.1 metres, plus she has a full hydraulic hand tool capability provided by a separate JCB hydraulic engine.

The vessel also has full digital communications capabilities with video compatibility, and a fully integrated HP Surface Supplied high pressure Divex diving system, enabling her to support three divers in the water simultaneously.

Meercat Boats’ recent projects include the refit and survey of the 18m steel Meercat, Toplift. New build Meercat multi-role vessels include Guernsey Harbours’ new 15 metre steel Meercat MRV15, Sarnia, which commenced operations in October.

Meercat Boats operates from its Southampton waterside purpose-built shipyard, where it employs highly experienced and dedicated teams of steel fabricators and finishers.

Contact John Buck, Meercat’s Business Manager to find out more at john@meercatboats.com.