New RIB for ILV Granuaile
by Dermot Gray
On Wednesday 10 June at the Coal Harbour Dun Laoghaire Tom McLoughlin, Managing Director of Redbay Boats Ltd, presented me with the keys of a new rib which had been built for ILV Granuaile.
The 2.8 tonne rib is 8.0 metres in length, 2.65 metres beam and powered by an inboard 285 horsepower diesel engine with twin propellers and a cruising speed of 30 knots. Her navigational aids include Radar and a Chart Plotter with DGPS for real-time positioning. She also carries a single beam echo sounder, AIS class B unit and a fixed marine band vhf transceiver. She is enclosed with crew and passenger capacity for 10 persons all seated. She is certified to carry passengers under Irish Department of Transport Passenger Boat Regulations and also UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Regulations.
The Red Bay Storm Force 8.0 had been ordered as a replacement for the Mulder and Rijk rib which had been with the Granuaile since 2000. We were required to replace the original rib because of marine passenger legislation so we took the opportunity to build a rib which would increase the scope of marine operations resulting in increased productivity and effectiveness.
A detailed specification was drawn up by the Marine Department and submitted to the EU Journal tendering centre. Following a rigorous tendering process and evaluation of tenders the Commissioners selected Redbay Boats Ltd of Cushendall, Co. Antrim, to build the rib.
Work commenced on building the rib at Redbay's premises on 20 January 2009. The Redbay build team had visited Granuaile and gained knowledge of our operational requirements for the rib. This visit was invaluable as they witnessed ship's operations regarding our use of ribs and understood that this boat would spent a lot of time being hoisted and lowered and would require additional strong points to facilitate this. Having briefed them on the areas of our operation and what we expected the rib to do, many extra strengthening features were incorporated into the boat.
During the building process I visited Redbay Boats and sighted the process in fitting engines, drives, electrical equipment, electronic equipment and final fitting out. Both Redbay Boats and Irish Lights worked in tandem during the project so that we got the best possible boat for its size. Since coming into service the rib has proved to be most effective in carrying out duties relating to Irish Lights Aids to Navigation inspections, Local Light inspections and personnel transfers. At a cruising speed of 30 knots she is ideal for Aids to Navigation casualty intervention where the crew can attend a buoy or beacon and rapidly effect temporary or permanent repairs.
We have been delighted with her performance to date and she has met all our expectations.