VESSEL REVIEW | Rebel Defender – UK operator acquires compact towing and maintenance workboat

UK operator Rebel Marine has added a new aluminium vessel to its fleet of compact workboats.

Designed and built by Netherlands-based Aluva, Rebel Defender is a V-Hulled, shallow-draught open workboat and safety boat suitable for a variety of tasks such as pushing and towing of pontoons, maintenance of marine infrastructure, and transport of personnel and equipment in both inland and nearshore waters.

The newbuild has an LOA of six metres, a beam of 2.1 metres, a draught of only 0.2 metre, and space for six people. A Yamaha 52kW petrol outboard engine fed by a 50-litre tank delivers a top speed of 25 knots.

The vessel boasts a low air draught, a low console, and a collapsible A-frame, allowing it to easily sail underneath bridges and other low-hanging structures. The electronics suite from Simrad includes a touchscreen multi-function display, a radar, a VHF radio, a Class B AIS transponder, a wind instrument, and a chartplotter. Also fitted is an Icom VHF radio. LED lighting is installed throughout in the form of navigation lights, strobe lights, floodlights, deck lights, and bow lights to ensure safety during nighttime operations.

For pontoon handling, the boat relies on push bow fenders and coupling winches. It is also capable of accommodating optional equipment such as a survey boom, a generator, and a dive ladder.

As with the other workboats in the Rebel Marine fleet, Rebel Defender is compact enough that it can be easily transported by trailer to any work site in the UK.

See all the other news, reviews and features of this month's Marine Engines and Propulsion Systems Week right here.