VESSEL REVIEW | Naval support pontoon workboat for Bahrain Defence Force

The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) recently took delivery of a new pontoon workboat designed to support operations at its naval installations.

Built by UK-based WorkFloat, the self-propelled craft was designed with the unique ability to be folded up along with all its equipment into a standard 40-foot container for easy deployment. The builder said mobilisation and demobilisation can be completed within a day.

The BDF support pontoon has a length of 12 metres, a beam of six metres, a draught of only 0.3 metres, and a displacement of 14 tonnes. Its most prominent feature is an open deck that can accommodate up to 14 tonnes of assorted cargo, a crane with a 0.5-tonne lifting capacity and a 13-metre reach, a two-tonne winch that can be used for mooring, a central moonpool for drilling or general inspection duties, and a bow ramp for loading and unloading of 3.5-tonne military vehicles and other freight. Located near the stern are helm and crane operator control stations.

The propulsion arrangement includes a retractable bow thruster and two Yamaha 52kW outboard engines that can deliver a bollard pull of 1.2 tonnes and a speed of seven knots. A set of 10-metre spud legs will help keep the vessel in place when carrying out a range of duties in shallow waters.

The craft also has a full navigation suite that includes a GPS while deck and navigation lights aid during operations at night and in other low-light conditions.

WorkFloat said the craft was built to the MCA workboat code and complies with relevant class standards for lifting and stability.

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