Hitching a ride, piggy-back style, are three new 27-metre patrol vessels built by Southampton's FBM Babcock Marine, based at Town Quay.

The vessels, part of a six-craft fleet designed by the company and constructed in shipyards in Scotland and the Philippines, arrived in Southampton on the heavy lift ship Erasmusgracht.

Built in the Far East, the vessels will be used by SMIT International (Scotland) for training military aircrew in marine survival techniques, helicopter winching drills and general marine support tasks, as part of a Public Private Partnership Programme awarded by the UK MOD. The vessels are an adaptation of FBM Babcock Marine's 27-metre patrol vessel. The design includes an aft docking well for a RIB or for torpedo recovery, a full-width stern training platform and clear deck areas for helicopter winching drills.

Of aluminium construction, the craft are powered by twin engines to propellers and an additional centre-line engine to waterjet.

The addition of the waterjet allows the vessels to operate economically at slow speed for long periods of time, while also providing outstanding manoeuvrability. Accommodation is provided for six crew.

FACTFILE:

Type: Air Crew Training Vessels Customer: SMIT International (Scotland)

Length overall: 27.84 metres

Length waterline: 24.00 metres Beam: 6.70 metres

Draught: 1.70 metres

Hull Construction: Aluminium alloy

Superstructure: Aluminium alloy

Propulsion: Two diesel engines to propeller, one diesel engine to waterjet

Speed: Up to 22 knots

Range: 650 nautical miles