THAILAND’S Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has taken delivery of a new research vessel designed by Australia’s Incat Crowther.

The Incat Crowther 25, built by Thai shipbuilder Seacrest Marine, would be used by the DMCR to patrol Thailand’s coastal environments and monitor the nation’s fisheries and marine resources.

The 25-metre catamaran has equipment to help its crew monitor and protect sensitive coastal areas while having minimal impact on the environment.

Designed to accommodate 12 crew and 16 passengers in six sleeping quarters, the main deck features three of the vessel’s sleeping quarters, five bathrooms, a large mess, an outdoor dining area, galley and a conveniently located storeroom.

The upper deck features an office and operations control room with a day head and an ensuite cabin for the captain. The large wheelhouse has been designed to optimise the captain’s line of sight, while the upper deck also provides storage for a tender and jet ski – both readily available for fast deployment via crane. The hull deck features three crew cabins.

Seacrest Marine managing director Tanapat Hemangkorn said Incat Crowther’s approach to digital shipbuilding helped support the the project from the bid stage through to delivery.

“Seacrest Marine and Incat Crowther have a track record of successfully partnering on a range of projects, with the delivery of this vessel being the sixth Incat Crowther design, yet another example of our thriving partnership,” Mr Hemangkorn said.

Incat Crowther’s Technical Manager Dan Mace said: “Using a tried and tested design as a foundation, this vessel has been customised to the DMCR’s unique coastal research and monitoring needs and integrates the latest technological advancements.”

“The market-leading hull design, refined through extensive model tank testing, sets new standards for performance,” Mr Mace said.

“With a propulsion system enabling maximum speeds of over 30 knots and efficient fuel consumption, this design also maximises operational efficiency without compromising performance.”