The working craft that bustle around our harbours, ports and waterways are often overlooked compared to the larger sea-going vessels that share these environments. However, work vessels perform a vital role within all sectors of the shipping industry. One such ubiquitous workboat is the EuroCarrier, a market-leading, robust multi-purpose craft for marine operations. Roles fulfilled include general supply, maintenance and support operations aquaculture operations (including net cleaning and pen towage), offshore wind operations (including subsea cable repairs, supply of materials and maintenance), marine civil construction (including supply of materials and dredging support), anchor handling and much more. A true Swiss Army Knife of the working vessel world. The EuroCarrier family presently consists of the Eurocarrier 1206 (12.60m long/7t bollard pull), EuroCarrier 1908 (19.50m long/10t bollard pull), EuroCarrier 2209 (21.60m long/15t bollard pull), EuroCarrier 2495 (24.45m long/ 22t bollard pull), EuroCarrier 2611 (26.48m long/35t bollard pull), EuroCarrier 2712 (27.00m/35t bollard pull) and the EuroCarrier 3413 (34.00m long/36t bollard pull). With fully customisable designs and a wide range of options, EuroCarriers offer the ultimate in versatility and reliability and represent just one aspect of the great variety of shipbuilding in The Netherlands. The EuroCarrier family is the result of years of ongoing co-operation with workboat operators, offering adaptable solutions for owners that seek vessels capable of undertaking the full spectrum of support activities. The EuroCarrier was spawned by Neptune Marine, a company that can trace its routes back to 1972 when the yard opened in Aalst, The Netherlands, as a builder of luxury yachts. That activity was soon joined by the manufacture of workboats where the expertise gained thus far plus the culture of working to the highest standards reaped rewards. Such was the success of the workboat division that, in 2001, the two activities were separated into Neptune, focussing on workboats, and Elling Luxury Yachts. Over the years the company has expanded, gaining additional facilities in Hardinxveld and Groningen. In 2005, Neptune Marine started its marine services activities. By offering charter equipment, including pontoons and deck equipment, to operators and contractors, the company can deliver solutions for any kind of project. The scope of services has expanded over time in response to customer demand so the range of workboats has been supplemented by pontoons, high speed and offshore vessels of various types. In 2010 a successful repair, conversion and mobilisation service was added to the portfolio.

From Speculative Beginnings

By now it will be apparent that the subject of this Newbuild of the Month is a vessel from the EuroCarrier stable, the EuroCarrier 2209 to be precise. Many Readers will be familiar with the fleet of blue work vessels and tugs that can be seen at work around Southampton, Southampton Water and the Solent area and these belong to Southampton-based Williams Shipping. This company was founded in 1894 when George Williams gave up his career working on windjammers to set up his own business. Aged 30, George acquired a small pinnace which was being sold by the Royal Navy. This pinnace was a small open boat which had been used for rowing crews out to Naval Vessels moored in Portsmouth Harbour. He rigged a sail and brought the vessel to Hythe on the banks of Southampton Water and set to work, converting it into a small sailing barge which was able to carry up to 20t of cargo. Upon completion, the barge, now named Spec (reflecting this speculative venture) was moved down river to the small creek of Ashlett. It was not long before George was successful in acquiring his first cargo, collecting a consignment from the Isle of Wight for delivery to Southampton. Once his first voyage was completed, he soon gained a reputation for delivering the reliable service which has become the cornerstone of Williams Shipping‘s development. George’s son Jim took over the reins eventually and it was not long before he acquired more modern and larger barges which became a regular sight on the Solent, Southampton Water and River Medina in the Isle of Wight. With the building and development of the oil terminal at Fawley, the business diversified into providing services to the increasing number of tankers arriving with crude oil from the Middle East. After the outbreak of World War 2, the firm was requisitioned by the Government providing a range of important services to the many ships involved in a variety of roles as part of the war effort. After the war, Williams Shipping (Fawley) Limited, as it was now known, moved its base to Town Quay in Southampton. The Company continued to grow and expanded its operations into road transport, small tankers and bunkering as well as the services which founder George had initiated. In 1968 Ray’s son Eric (Grandson of Jim Williams), joined the family firm with younger son Colin following his brother 8 years later. The expansion and diversification continued and in 1979 the Company, in conjunction with the Red Funnel Group, established a business to provide services to Offshore Drilling Companies operating in the English Channel and South Western Approaches.

Today the Company, comprising of several divisions, is still operated by five family members. Eric (Chairman) working with his brother Colin, and two sons Philip and Jonathan plus Colin’s son Chris.

It is most impressive how such a company can grow and diversify on the success of one converted vessel that was put to work in such a humble manner in 1894. Nowadays, Williams Shipping is a marine and logistics operation offering a broad range of marine and logistics services, including vessel charter, port services, transport and logistics, marine lubricants distribution, and container hire and sales. Ongoing daily support is provided for shipping lines, oil terminals, freight forwarders, ships agents and civil engineers. From the bases in Southampton and Milford Haven, the company provides a wealth of marine and logistics expertise across the UK and Europe. In the spring of 2021, the marine fleet consisted of 14 vessels, 8 multi-purpose and 6 tugs/workboats and launches. All except the wind turbine carrier Bladerunner 2 have the prefix of “Wil” or “Will” to their names.

Meeting the Challenge

The 14th member of the self-propelled marine fleet is the 145gt/2021-built Willchallenge, the newly delivered EuroCarrier 2209 from Neptune Marine. The vessel joined the company in February 2021 having been launched at Neptune Marine’s Aalst shipyard in October 2020 as their Yard No. NP564. These plucky vessels operate under the MCA Workboat Code Cat. 2 and are classed Bureau Veritas, Special service/ multipurpose ship/unrestricted navigation, so have a “go anywhere” capability. The Willchallenge was brought home under her own power from Aalst in The Netherlands and joins her elder sister, the 136gt/2007-built EuroCarrier 2209 Willendeavour. The latter has been assigned all manner of tasks since joining the company, including assisting with the delivery of the Cowes Floating Bridge, Floating Bridge No.6, from Pembroke Dock to Cowes, the Red Funnel Ro-Ro vessel Red Kestrel (1,102gt/built 2019) when towed from Birkenhead to Southampton by the 140gt/2000-built Willpower and also working with the latter to tow the broken down Wightlink ferry Wight Sky (2,546gt/built 2008) from Yarmouth to Lymington.

The Willchallenge is 22m long with a 9m beam, 3m hull depth at the sides and a general draught of 2m. The rectangular hull provides a perfect work and cargo area. Situated within the hull at the bow are four fresh water tanks and aft of this can be found a store on the port side and 3 crew cabins and facilities to starboard (2x single and 1x double cabin). The fuel tanks are situated amidships with the machinery spaces in the aft section of the hull. The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar C18 main engines, which each have an output of 447kW @ 1800rpm. The Caterpillar C18 Marine Engine is a I-6, four-stroke–cycle diesel engine with a displacement of 18.1 litres, turbocharged-aftercooled aspiration and a maximum exhaust backpressure of 6.7kPa which is equivalent to 26.9 In.

A dry C18 engine weighs around 1,539kg, is 1.50m long, 1.07m wide and 1.14m high. The engines drive two 1,350mm and 4-blade FPP propellers in nozzles through Twin Disc MGX 5170 DC 4.5:1 gearboxes. The free running speed is 10 Knots and the vessel can also offer a bollard pull of 16t for towage duties. In trials the bollard pull at 11 knots was recorded as 14.80t. Onboard power is provided via two Caterpillar C4.4 103Kva generator sets, one radiator cooled and one keel cooled. Hydraulic power onboard is provided by two 55kW electric motors, driven by both generators.

The Azobé covered work/cargo deck is 100m2 with a maximum deck load capacity of 80t (6t/m2). Among the myriad of cargoes that can be carried, the deck will accommodate two 20ft or four 10ft containers. An HS Marine AKC 185 HE4 foldable knuckle and telescopic boom deck crane is fitted on the port side at the bow with an 8t winch. The crane’s capacity is 32,540kg at a 4m outreach or 7,620kg at a 15.07m outreach. Other equipment includes a 50t split drum anchor handling and towing winch, a 20t SWL Mampaey MXX 015 towing hook, a 10t tugger winch plus a wide bow roller is fitted in combination with hydraulically operated wire-guide pins. The hauling speed of the towing winch ranges between 7m/min and 21m/min. Situated mid-way along the port side of the deck is the deckhouse. The main deck level houses the airconditioned galley/messroom and above this is the spacious 360 degree visibility wheelhouse with space for survey equipment if required.

The EuroCarrier vessels, and other designs such as the Damen Multi Cat, certainly pack a lot into a compact profile and are an essential part of daily life around our shores, busying themselves with a plethora of tasks.