The Norwegian crew and pilot transfer company Fonnes Batservice AS have ordered a second vessel from Safehaven in County Cork. Four years after taking delivery of his Wildcat 53 ‘Feminin’ Tommy Fonnes signed contracts for an Interceptor 48, pilot & crew transfer design capable of transporting 12 personnel. To comply with the Norwegian Maritime Authorities the superstructure design is modified to incorporate forward angled windows. ‘Masculin’ will be powered by a pair of Scania DI13 500hp engines delivering a 26kts operational speed. The specification also incorporates a powerful hydraulic bow thruster integrated to a Twin Disc dynamic propulsion control system.
Tommy Fonnes (left) with Safehaven's Frank Kowalski
Safehaven's Frank Kowalski relates the story of when the Norwegian customer first visited the Irish boatyard. "Tommy first visited us in 2013 with just an initial interest in our vessels. The day he arrived we were due to undertake sea trials in a couple of our vessels, I suggested he might like to come along, but warned him it might be a bit rough and that I hope he doesn’t get seasick. Tommy was up for it and for sure it was rough, with winds gusting over Force 10 and 5m seas. Later that night, suitably impressed with our vessels we signed contracts for his Wildcat 53. Always interested in what we do, during one of his build visits Tommy insisted in joining me strapped inside the cabin when we first rolled over the first 48 in a self-righting, capsize recovery test. Look forward to working with him on his new boat and seeing her operating in the amazing Norwegian fjords".
