"Three Counties"
| Overall Length: | 18 metres |
| Beam: | 6.8 metres |
| Draft: | 1.2 metres |
| Gross Tonnage: | 64 tonnes (approximately) |
| Main Engines: | 2 x 525hp Cummins Marine Diesel Engines |
| Maximum Speed: | unconfirmed |
| Builders: | Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd |
| Designer: | C Baker (Isle of Man) |
| Launched: | 2002 |
"THREE COUNTIES" is the Committee's second Research Vessel, built as a replacement for "ESF SURVEYOR".
Three Counties is an aluminium construction of a catamaran design which provides a stable working platform from which the crew and scientists can deploy a wide range of benthic and other sampling equipment. The 1.2m draft permits the vessel to continue operating in very shallow water as well as drying out on sandbanks to allow survey work to be carried out on foot. Keel cooling of the main engines and air cooled generators allow the hydraulic system to be operated while the vessel is dried out. Trolling valves and bow thrusters are also fitted to Three Counties to enable her to stay on station without anchoring, or creep along at 1 knot for survey work.
Deck equipment includes :
- a Helia marine crane - with a lifting capability of 0.5 tonnes at full reach of 6.9 metres.
- 2 trawling winches
- stern gantry with a sampling winch
- water sampling davit and winch
- 2 anchor windlasses
The stern gantry has full movement through 90° at a speed of 30 seconds. Benthic sampling equipment can be deployed and returned to the deck very rapidly allowing many sampling stations (70-80) to be undertaken in a single working day, with crew safety not being compromised.
Navigation Equipment:
Communications hardware, 3-D mapping and ground discrimination packages have
been fitted to an advanced wheelhouse instrumentation specification. Considerable
details of the seabed contours and sediment types can be recorded continuously,
enabling a comprehensive picture of the seabed to be built up and added to
over time.
Accommodation:
The Deckhouse is equipped with:
- a wet laboratory, for sample analysis
- a dry laboratory - with computer hardware
- large galley/mess area
In addition four 2-man cabins and two showers/toilets are built into the two hulls, sound levels are kept to a minimum by insulated bulkheads between the engine rooms and the accommodation spaces.
