Press releases

24 February 2015

Maria McCaffery officially names James Fisher multi-purpose wind farm support vessel ‘Dart Fisher’. 

Dedication ceremony celebrates completion of significant enhancement and upgrade programme to deliver additional capabilities and integrated services to the offshore wind industry.
 
Providing an innovative and unique solution to the offshore renewables market, James Fisher Marine Services’s (JFMS) multi-purpose 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 key customers, partners and The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Sue Blatchford was delivered by Mission to Seafarers chaplain John Attenborough and marks the completion of significant investment programme 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 manoeuvrability 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 co-ordination system
  • Installation work for Palfinger Deck Crane to be used for ROV work and offshore equipment load/offload 

 

Godmother of the vessel, Maria McCaffery, CEO of RenewableUK commented: “It gave me great honour and privilege to bless the Dart Fisher and I wish the vessel and her crew every success in future operations. I was delighted to take part in the dedication ceremony and learn about the vessel’s capabilities." 

After taking delivery of the first of type SMV 24 vessel from Supacat on the 14 April 2014, Dart Fisher established a new precedent by entering service on charter two days later. A full programme during the remainder of the year on the East and West coasts of the UK 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 long standing tradition established over 168 years of vessel ownership and operation within James Fisher with vessels named after eminent British and Irish rivers and recognises the designer and builder of the vessel, Supacat Ltd, based in Honiton, Devon.
 
Commenting on the dedication service Chris Compton, general manager and director of Supacat Ltd said “We’re delighted that Dart Fisher has proven to be so successful and would like to congratulate JFMS on completing its first successful year of operations."
 
Chris expanded by saying: “The success of the first of the SMV vessels underscores the commitment of James Fisher as launch customer."

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