It’s a bumper year so far for Vredenburg yard Sachal which reports two recent launches for the local market and a solid order book for the coming months.

The two launches are both work boats under 25GRT for the diamond mining industry. One vessel (Lady Liya) is the first of its kind, featuring a 1.5m diameter moonpool through the vessel centre to accommodate a large dredging pump. “She will be used to remove sand and silt at a rate of 800 cubic meters per hour and discharge 1km away,” explains Sachal shipyard manager Nic Stevens. “The dredge pump is controlled by an advanced AHC (active heave compensation) system to keep the suction head at the optimal position relative to the seabed. The dredge head features a high-pressure water jet to loosen the material to be sucked up. All of this is powered by a 300kW HPU in the vessel machinery room and a 10kVA gen set for the rest of the systems and the AHC controller.”

The second vessel (Gaba-Iphiwe) is geared for mining in the harsh conditions off the South African coast. She has facilities for up to ten crew for multiple-day trips. She is full-composite, designed to be fuel efficient and comfortable, and powered by a 280HP 11L Doosan engine with a top speed of 11knots and a cruising speed of 9knots – and using only around 8litres of diesel per hour.

“With a total fuel capacity of 4000L extended voyages are no problem,” says Stevens. “She is kitted with a full Furuno electronics package, internet and surveillance camera and high spec systems.” She also has a fully-equipped galley with a gas oven, stove, fridge and freezers, and can carry 3000 liters of fresh water.

Stevens says the Sachal yard is “at full swing” with various other projects on the go, among them the construction of tooling for a 27m x 8m displacement hull, designed for the Stern Trawl, small Pelagic and workboat markets. “We also have few 15m vessels planned for the year. The possible refit on a 90ft fishing vessel is also on the cards. Another exciting project coming up is the full restoration of a classic cold mould IOR sailing yacht,” Stevens says.

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