ABP celebrates the launch of its latest survey vessel Humber Sounder
ABP has celebrated the launch of its latest survey vessel Humber Sounder with a naming ceremony at the Port of Hull.
The ceremony, which was conducted by Father Colum Kelly of the Apostleship of the Sea, was attended by ABP staff and customers, as well as representatives of Blyth Workboats, which built the 14-metre catamaran. The Humber Sounder will be used to survey and manage the channels and waterways in and around the Humber Estuary.
The assembled guests also listened to a speech by Lucia Bird, wife of ABP Director Humber. Mrs Bird also named the vessel.
The Humber Sounder represents a £550,000 investment under ABP’s Vessel Replacement Programme, which was established to support its customers and other river users in operating safely, sustainably and efficiently.
The Humber Sounder is fitted with almost £250,000 of survey equipment which operates to centimetre accuracy and an ‘A’ crane on the deck which allows greater versatility of operations. The addition of a ‘moon pool’ system means expensive and very delicate cameras and survey equipment can be safely stowed when not in use.
The wheelhouse can carry 12 passengers and crew and includes a suite of technology from forward-looking sonar and deck cameras to assist with operations of the vessel in close quarters or shallow waters, to a bank of touch-screen monitors which can display information quickly and easily.
