Wight Shipyard delivers 20 m cat to Scottish operator

Jacobite Maverick

JUNE 14, 2018 — Want to go looking for Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster? Here’s one way to do so in style. Britain’s Wight Shipyard Co has just delivered its latest vessel to Scottish operator Loch Ness by Jacobite. The new 20 m day-cruise passenger catamaran Jacobite Maverick is joining the company’s fleet sailing between Dochgarroch, just outside Inverness, Clansman Harbour and the historic ruins of Urquhart Castle.

“We are delighted to see Jacobite Maverick sail to her new home on Loch Ness as she represents our first order for Scotland,” says Wight Shipyard Co CEO Peter Morton. “The Jacobite Maverick underpins WSC’s track record in building sustainable and low environmental impact vessels.”

“Loch Ness by Jacobite is seeing incredible growth and last year we welcomed almost 300,000 passengers onto the waters of Loch Ness,” says Freda Newton, Managing Director of Loch Ness by Jacobite. “The new catamaran built by Wight Shipyard Co continues our investment in Loch Ness by Jacobite, our people and our fleet so we can offer the very best visitor experience. We have been most impressed by Wight Shipyard’s skills and in particular the quality of finish in their vessels.”

Designed by One2three Naval Architects of Sydney, Australia, the new catamaran has a hullform designed to provide through-life efficiency with low structural weight assisting lower fuel consumption.

The vessel accommodates 200 passengers who board over the forward and aft decks. The aft deck seats 13 passengers while the foredeck has 15 seats and is fitted with hinged boarding ramps. Passengers enter a well appointed and tastefully finished cabin with seating arrangements for 102 passengers. Bench seating finished in the operator’s own tartan is complemented byoak tables manufactured by the shipyard. There is provision for securing two wheelchairs in the cabin and throughout, passengers can view 32″ flat screen televisions showing the depths below.

A spacious café/kiosk is equipped with two servery bench sinks, an undercounter refrigerator, two fridge coffee machines, a hot chocolate machine and an ice maker.

Four toilets are located at the rear of the accommodations, one of which is for disabled customers.

Outdoor seating is provided for 84 passengers on the upper deck, aft of the elevated wheelhouse which is equipped with the latest in navigational aids. The instrument panel with all gauges, indicators and warning lights associated with main engines is positioned so that each component is readily visible to the helmsman. The bridge wings are fitted with a control station.

In the hulls of Jacobite Maverick, the engine rooms feature removal hatches over each engine, completely clear of overhead obstructions.

The vessel is powered by two Scania DI9 main engines, each producing 257 kW at 2,100 rpm, and driving two fixed pitch, 5-bladed propellers via two Twin Disc MGX 5114 SC gearboxes. Electrical requirements are met by two 30 kW Kubota engines powering two Beta Marine generators, 33 kVa 230 V 50 Hz single phase

Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 15 knots, the vessel will cruise at 12 knots on Loch Ness, further slowing to 5 knots in the Caledonian Canal.