Freire Shipyard delivers Briggs Marine maintenance support vessel
New Maintenance Vessel Delivered to Briggs Marine
Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, has delivered a new 42-meter, DP2 diesel-electric maintenance support vessel to U.K.-based Briggs Marine. This delivery follows a contract awarded in December 2022. The vessel is designed to enhance Briggs Marine’s capabilities in supporting various marine projects, particularly in the offshore sector.
Enhanced Capabilities for Marine Operations
Briggs Marine has established itself as a vital supplier to Peel Ports Group, offering a range of marine services at the Port of Liverpool and London Medway. Their services include Aids to Navigation (AtoN), commercial diving, subsea cable inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR), as well as construction and engineering support. They also provide environmental response, marine surveys, terminal and energy storage solutions, and vessel chartering throughout the U.K.
The newly delivered maintenance support vessel is designed by Cintranaval in collaboration with Freire Shipyard’s design team. Its primary function is to support Briggs Marine’s contracts with the U.K. Government, offshore wind farms, and commercial ports. The vessel will focus on the inspection, maintenance, and replacement of AtoN and heavy inshore moorings, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, it will conduct survey, diving, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations, along with offshore project and maintenance support.
Freire Shipyard’s CEOs, Marcos Freire and Guillermo Freire, expressed pride in this collaboration, stating that the project marks a significant advancement in providing technical solutions for the international market. Iain Ross, Briggs Marine’s director of port and marine services, emphasized that the new vessel reinforces their commitment to leading the U.K. offshore sector, enhancing their support for marine projects in renewable energy and traditional marine construction.
The vessel features a moon pool, a demountable A-frame, a four-point mooring system, an active heave compensated crane, and a dedicated survey project office. It is also equipped with a detachable ladder for crew transfer vessel (CTV) boarding, specifically for renewable energy projects. The DP-2 diesel-electric propulsion system ensures efficiency in U.K. and Northern European waters, while providing comfortable accommodations for six crew members and ten project staff, enabling 24-hour operations. Briggs Marine has prioritized crew comfort by incorporating noise reduction measures, ensuring that both crew and project staff can rest well during operations. The vessel combines flexibility and functionality, effectively supporting diving, survey, and project operations without compromising its primary purpose.
