Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd has recently handed over a 40m Fast Crew Boat (FCB) to Centus Marine Sdn Bhd. Built in Singapore as part of Strategic Marine’s stock program, the vessel construction proceeded smoothly despite COVID restrictions and was completed according to schedule.

The handover ceremony was attended by Centus Marine and held at Strategic Marine’s Singapore shipyard.

The vessel, named Centus Eight, completed sea trials in January and received glowing feedback by the Owner. In particular, the results from the speed trial are impressive and provides clear evidence of the benefits of Strategic Marine’s rigorous weight control measures implemented across its vessel range. With a deadweight of 35 metric tons and in the presence of an independent surveyor she achieved a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

The highly rated Generation 3 hull form was developed in close collaboration with Strategic Marine’s long-term design partner Southerly Designs in Australia and was extensively tested at the Australian Maritime College.

The vessel has won praise for its market-leading performance and superior seakeeping from many experienced operators around the world and each new vessel benefits from the ongoing improvements, innovations and customer feedback incorporated as part of Strategic Marine’s continuous improvement philosophy.

Designed to meet the specific requirements of Oil Majors, Centus Marine will deploy her in Malaysian waters. The vessel will be powered by three Caterpillar C32 engines driving fixed pitch propellers providing a robust and efficient propulsion system. The station-keeping and maneuvering capability is further enhanced by a tunnel thruster installed at the bow. Designed to meet the strict requirements of oil majors the vessel is also equipped to carry out external fire-fighting roles by a remote-controlled water monitor with a capacity of 1200m³/hr.

The accommodation space features 16 berths in 7 cabins, a large galley and mess area as well as walk in chiller & freezer to cater for a large crew with extended operational endurance. The passenger saloon offers 70 comfortable reclining seats arranged with either single or twin seats in each row to provide additional space and privacy.

The aft deck has a clear area of 120m² with deck strength of 2t/m² protected by sturdy crash rails and planked with chemically treated hard timber. The vessel cargo fuel capacity is 70m³ and cargo freshwater capacity is 30m³.

Centus Marine commented: “We are very pleased to take delivery of the FCB today and we want to express our appreciation to the Strategic Marine team.  The team has adapted quickly to the safe management measures required due to the pandemic and adjusted their working schedule to meet the required delivery timeline. They have gone the extra mile to complete this project and we would like to commend their efforts.”

Strategic Marine’s CEO Chan Eng Yew said: “We are thankful for Centus Marine’s support and for our colleagues’ tireless efforts in ensuring the project was completed under these exceptional circumstances. This is a notable milestone for Strategic Marine as it is the first vessel constructed under our new ownership. These are exciting times for us as a group and we are committed to building on our current orders and expanding our market share further.”