James Fisher Wind Farm Support Vessel Named
Chris Compton, Jim Hey, Adrian Went, Maria McCaffery, Sue Blacthford and Arthur Todd (Photo: JFMS)
Maria McCaffery RenewableUK CEO and Sue Blatchford Mayor of Southampton (Photo: JFMS)
James Fisher Marine Services’s (JFMS) multipurpose wind farm support vessel, Dart Fisher, has been formally named by the vessel’s Godmother Maria McCaffery MBE, CEO of RenewableUK at a dedication service held at Griffon Hoverwork, Southampton.
The service, attended by customers, partners and The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton, Councilor Sue Blatchford was delivered by Mission to Seafarers chaplain John Attenborough and marks the completion of significant investment program to increase Dart Fisher’s operational capabilities and demonstrate innovative monitoring solutions to enhance safety and efficiency, including addition of Hercules Hydraulics bow thrusters in each hull to increase low speed maneuverability and route following capability for survey operations, enhanced bow fendering system supplied by Manuplas, intelligent Fender System – a vessel impact and thrust load sensing and verification system developed by James Fisher group company Strainstall, VMMS system that reports on actual motions experienced by vessel and crew in real time as part of the wider James Fisher OWMS marine management and coordination system and installation work for Palfinger Deck Crane to be used for ROV work and offshore equipment load/offload.
After taking delivery of the first of type SMV 24 vessel from Supacat on April 14, 2014, Dart Fisher entered service on charter two days later. A full program during the remainder of the year on the East and West coasts of the U.K. and in German Waters provided limited opportunity to observe the tradition of a formal naming ceremony and appointment of a Godmother.
The selection of the name follows a tradition established over 168 years of vessel ownership and operation within James Fisher with vessels named after eminent British and Irish rivers and recognizes the designer and builder of the vessel, Supacat Ltd, based in Honiton, Devon.
