Survey Vessel MV Proteus Launched
UK-based specialist seabed mapping company Osiris Projects has launched the 5th vessel in its fleet, the 14.0m GRP catamaran MV Proteus. Designed to provide an excellent working platform for coastal survey operations, MV Proteus can work up to 60 miles from a safe haven under MCA Category 2 and has a maximum speed of 24 knots.
The vessel benefits from a shallow draft of just 1.0m making her ideal for inshore operations, while the hull design ensures exceptional manoeuvrability at both low and high speeds and incorporates a low drag profile providing fuel economy.
The vessel is equipped with high-grade positioning systems including an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and acoustic Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) acoustic positioning system for towfish tracking. The large back deck features a moon pool fitted with a hydraulic retractable hydrodynamic gondola designed to house a high grade multibeam echo sounder systems. Proteus is permanently mobilised with an AGO-CSW7 electric sonar winch which, when combined with the hydraulic A-Frame, allows for the safe launch and recovery of geophysical equipment including side scan sonar, sub bottom profilers and marine magnetometers. A separate hydraulic lifting winch enables oceanographic and benthic survey equipment to be launched and recovered from the vessel including small inspection class ROV/drop down camera, various grab sampling equipment and benthic trawls. Additional custom designed over side mounts and davits allows for the vessel to be configured for a range of client requirements. This capability optimises consistency between datasets acquired by Proteus and Osiris Projects’ 24hr vessels; 27.5m DP1 flagship MV Bibby Tethra and 26.5m MV Chartwell.
Proteus is the 4th custom-build project undertaken by Osiris Projects, following the launch of 12.0m MV Freja in 2002, 15.3m catamaran MV Lia in 2004, and the aforementioned MV Bibby Tethra in 2011. The success of Bibby Tethra, particularly in challenging sea conditions, has led the company to pursue the build of a sister ship to be built to the same fundamental design with a number of minimal alterations scheduled for launch in January 2015. Both Lia and Freja have also proven highly effective in coastal environments, and have completed over 200 marine survey contracts for marine renewables and oil and gas clients alone.
