One recent contract awarded to MST (Marine Specialised Technology Ltd) was for an MST 620WB-4 RIB  (6.2m LOA, 2.45 m BOA, powered by a 190 HP Volvo Penta Duoprop sterndrive for three hours endurance at 38 knots), for the
Isle of Man branch of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry for sternramp launching from its 22m mothership the Barrule. The other was for the German Police Coastguard for davit launching from a mothership.

Sternramp launching is gaining popularity.  MST director Philip Hilbert says “ MST's first RIB for sternramp launching was built in 2003 for Eastern Sea Fisheries. To date we have produced 48 craft for mothership use (launching by either davit or sternramp) with a further 40 on order. Of these, 16 craft have been for sternramp launching, with eight more on order.”

When asked why MST was awarded the contract, Senior Sea Fisheries Officer Colin Eastwood said; “The RIB in question is primarily carried aboard the Isle of Man Fisheries Protection vessel Barrule, so the size of RIB that can be carried is restricted. MST was selected because its craft closely matched the required specification and MST also had a considerable number of the same craft in operation performing similar functions. In addition I had (on a previous RIB build) dealt with MST’s Philip Hilbert and found him to be professional, knowledgeable and easy to deal with on practical matters.”

The RIB’s principal duties, Eastwood says, are “the enforcement of Sea Fisheries legislation, boarding fishing vessels at sea and transferring Sea Fisheries Officers from the mother vessel to the fishing vessel being inspected. This is carried out in most weather conditions. Which is demanding on any RIB and requires it to be suitably engineered to withstand the impacts of coming alongside commercial fishing vessels at sea.” Eastwood concludes “Its performance in all sea conditions can only be described as impressive for a RIB that is only 6.2 metres long.”  And the Isle of Man Fisheries Department confirms that the experienced crew members of the mother ship the Barrule have all commented that the new MST 620WB exceeds their expectations and is a great improvement on their previous boarding boat (from a different builder).

Another new 6.2m loa x 2.45m boa workboat from MST's popular 620 series is for the German Police Coastguard and replaces an existing craft (which is being retired from service) as part of an extensive refit and update on the mother vessel. It is launched and recovered from the mother ship via a Vestdavit single point davit system. This MST 620WB is powered by a Volvo Penta D3 190hp driving a Volvo Penta SX stern drive and is capable of 38 knots. It also features an integrated Henriksen system for safer launch and recovery (using a towing boom from the mother ship). This latest MST 620WB joins several others already supplied to the German Police Coastguard by MST over the last seven years, all of which are in active service.

-ENDS-
For further information about MST and its specialist builds, please contact, Philip Hilbert
MST - Marine Specialised Technology Ltd
www.mstltd.com
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T: +44 (0) 151 708 4112

For press information/images, please contact,
Lesley DiFonzo, LDMS PR
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T: +44 (0) 23 92 001990