November 21st
Design Now feature
October 6th
Patrol Boat naming ceremony
August 10th
James Bond movie company purchases Ecocat 8m movie boat.
Ecocats announced today the purchase of an Ecocat movie camera boat by Marine Film Services Ltd, the marine photography company behind the filming of the water scenes in the latest James Bond picture "Casino Royale".
On signing the vessel acceptance documents, Richard Carless, director of MFS, said: "We have always operated at the cutting edge of marine photography, so purchasing the Ecocat 8m movie camera boat, which is the best boat in our field, is a sound investment for us. We are happy that we will be working with the Ecocats team going forward."
Henry Mayhew, managing director of Ecocats said: "Richard is a true professional, and I loved the shots of Bond sailing his yacht up the Grand Canal in Venice towards the end of Casino Royale, so we are truly delighted to supply such a distinguished company with a specialist film boat. As well as giving them the stability, space and speed they require, they are also keeping it green."
May 15th
Ecocats and partners earn the Royal Institute of Naval Architects & Lloyds Register Ship Safety Award.(Port of London press release:)
The Port of London Authority (PLA) has won a special prize from the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, for the innovative design of its latest river patrol launches.
PLA worked with experts at the University of Southampton and from the boat building industry, to develop the hull design to suit the shallower waters of the Thames between Putney and Teddington. Compared to the conventional boats it replaces, the new boat causes less disturbance on the water, which is important to the safety of rowing boats and other small craft. It also has significantly improved environmental performance, as the slimmer twin-hull shape requires only about a third of the power to achieve patrol speeds.
The RINA – Lloyd’s Register Ship Safety Award is presented annually to the project from the international maritime community that best promotes safety or protects the environment at sea or on rivers. The 2006 competition prize was presented to Alan Cartwright of the PLA, Professor Philip Wilson of the University of Southampton and Henry Mayhew of the boat builders, Ecocats of Cornwall, at the recent RINA Annual Dinner.
PLA chief executive, Richard Everitt, said:
“This award from two internationally respected organisations is recognition of the innovative design work of the PLA team with Southampton University and Ecocats. We now have two vessels which enable us to work more closely with the host of leisure users in the upper river and with significant environmental benefits.”
The PLA sponsored a research and trials programme at the University of Southampton to develop the design concept for the boats. The result is the new 'twin-hull' design of two vessels, Chelsea, which has been in service on the river since the end of 2006, and Richmond, which has just been delivered from the yard.
“The acid test of success has been the new boats’ performance on the water. As the Thames above Putney is a nationally important centre for rowing, sailing and other leisure activities, it was essential that we got this right. The warm welcome for this innovative design from all river users shows that we’ve made substantial progress. This award is welcome recognition of the hard work that helped us deliver that performance,” he concluded.
PLA launches patrol the river every day, helping to ensure safety on the Thames; overseeing events; and providing emergency support.
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Notes to editors
The Royal Institution of Naval Architects is an internationally renowned professional institution whose members are involved at all levels in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Members of the RINA are widely represented in industry, universities and colleges, and maritime organisations in over 90 countries.
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping is the UK’s internationally recognised classification society for merchant ships.
Enquiries:
Alistair Gale/Martin Garside
Tel: 01474-562200
April 7th
Ecocat 8m Chase Boat umpires the Boat Race, won by Cambridge, for the third year.
January 12th 2007
Biocomposites plastics research project
December 4th
Ecocats MD in Saudi Arabia
Henry Mayhew has begun a three week visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates seeking to establish a joint venture through which to design and build boats and other composite products on the Arabian penisula. Ecocats believes its offerings have a strong future in the Middle East.
December 1st
Ecocats wins environmental products and services award
November 20th
Green patrol boat begins work on Thames
People living and working near the Thames may notice that a new design of patrol boat has begun work with the Port of London Authority (PLA). PLA launches patrol the river daily, helping ensure safety on the Thames; overseeing events; and providing emergency support. The new boat – ‘Chelsea’ - is now in service patrolling the Thames between Putney and Teddington.
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CHELSEA entering service at Richmond Lock
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The new launch enables routine patrolling and, when necessary, high speed response with a big reduction in ‘wash’ waves, compared to the older design of launches. Wash waves can cause difficulties to small recreational craft such as rowing boats and canoes. Wash also causes erosion and can disturb wildlife habitats, such as nesting and feeding birds. Less wash means less disturbance and less erosion. This helps the PLA to serve all river users better and helps to protect the environment of the river.
The boat is the result of research into boat wash in shallow water, undertaken by the PLA and Southampton University. All aspects of the boat’s design consider environmental concerns. Apart from the low wash, the new boat’s sleek catamaran hull uses less than one third of the fuel of the previous launches. This remarkable 67% saving on fuel consumption also means big reductions in CO2 emissions. The boat is also fitted with solar panels – using the power of the sun to provide electricity for battery charging and key systems on board. This makes a further additional contribution to improved environmental performance.
The shallow draught of the boat also enables patrols and inspections in shallower parts of the river and at lower states of the tide. This includes near the riverbank and in creeks and backwaters. Built in the UK by Ecocats Limited of Cornwall, the new boat also allows the PLA crew to have closer communication with rowers, canoeists and others in small leisure craft.
Alan Cartwright, PLA marine engineer said:
”This new patrol boat is excellent for the particular conditions of the upper tidal Thames from Putney all the way to Teddington. It helps us further improve the service we offer to all not least recreational users and helps protect the environment.”
Notes:
- The Port of London Authority is responsible for safety and related matters on 150km (95 miles) of the tidal Thames from the sea to Teddington.
- A second vessel will be delivered by Ecocats to the Port of London Authority in early March 2007