Arksen Pro has unveiled the first Arksen 8 Pro Edition, a specialist patrol and response vessel built for the Chichester Harbour Conservancy. The new craft expands the Conservancy's existing Arksen fleet and will support a wide range of operations, including search and rescue, towing, environmental monitoring and multi-agency maritime missions.
Designed from the Arksen 8 leisure platform, the Pro Edition has been adapted for professional use with a reinforced deck, heavy-duty materials and a configurable layout tailored to operational requirements. The Chichester Harbour Conservancy operates vessels for up to 1,200 hours annually. Its mission profile includes casualty recovery, coastal policing, conservation work and educational programmes.
Arksen Pro says the vessel incorporates several mission-specific features. Low-profile tubes positioned close to the waterline are intended to improve casualty recovery, while a purpose-built watertight compartment allows rescue and first-aid equipment to remain permanently onboard for rapid deployment.
The Arksen 8 Pro platform offers a range of configurable layouts and tube colour options, allowing professional operators to tailor the vessel to specific harbour, patrol, rescue and multi-agency requirements. Photo: Arksen
Crew welfare has also been prioritised. The Arksen 8 Pro is fitted with shock-mitigating helm seats, additional passenger seating and a dedicated workstation with protected storage for operational reporting and research activities. For towing and recovery work, the vessel features reinforced tow posts rated for vessels up to 24 metres in length and 34 tonnes displacement, together with an aft A-frame and towing fairlead.
The eight-metre vessel is powered by a Yamaha outboard engine and includes a canvas T-top with integrated spine-board storage and extensive watertight stowage. Arksen Pro said the order reflects the Conservancy's continued confidence in the company's professional vessel range.
Scheduled for completion in early summer, the Arksen 8 Pro has been produced through a 12-week build programme at Arksen's UK manufacturing facility.
