A Portishead company which builds cargo ships has landed a £3million contract for two massive offshore barges.
Osprey Group's new vessels - Osprey Bouwer and Osprey Fabrique - will carry over-sized, heavy cargo for the Royal Navy, and nuclear, offshore wind, oil and gas, and civil construction industries.
The 50-metre-long barges will also transport cargo to nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C in Somerset.
Each vessel will have a width at its widest point of 18.8 metres and a depth of three metres, according to Osprey.
The 'unrestricted sailing area' classified barges will also have a deck capable of carrying tonnes of weight and will be equipped with two 23-metre spud poles.
The North Somerset-headquartered company said it expected to have the new barges ready by the first quarter of 2021, with plans to then deploy them to be used to support specialist logistics operations in France, Morocco and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Neil Schofield, Osprey’s chief operations officer said: “The addition of Osprey Bouwer and Osprey Fabrique to our fleet is very welcome.
“At a time when we’re all focusing on safety in the present, these additions represent an investment in the future – demonstrating our long-term commitment for supporting and being a trusted partner to our clients.”
The deal was brokered through Rotterdam-based trading, advice and brokerage company TABmarine.
