I worked out of Svalbord for a while, and even further north than this as well.
Be interesting operating a RIB there as there are lots of growlers and floating bergy bits all the time calving off the Glacier at head of the fiord.
They aren't kidding about the bears, you can't walk around outside the base unless you have an armed escort just in case.
However the terns are actually more of a problem, little buggers are vicious!
I found myself in Redbay Boats this week (the wind kinda blew me there) and I took a few pics of the new builds and remembered this thread, as it all sort of synched.
Better Moments have had a good year with the 12m RIBnoir...
So much so that they're back for a second one. And this one is novel - a 12m (all black) luxury cabin RIB powered (wait for it) by TRIPLE 200hp OXE diesel outboards. She is currently in the mould but I'll get a photo of her eventually, if I can get past Max...
But it's all about the 16s at the moment. The prototype Caledonia is going to be a Pilotboat at Liverpool, IIRC. To this end she is getting a refit - new fancy shock seating, new powerplant (Volvo D13s) and other coding related mods. She'll be the biz - give her a few weeks ;-)
The other one is the Belfast Pilot - back for a service and a few tweaks. She has a sister ship in the mold next to Caledonia - so that will be Hull #4 - again going to Belfast as a Pilot.
Other than that there was an air of frantic construction about the floor - seems the books are about full for the next twelve months unless you ask VERY nicely. The 950 with the twin Hyundais and the Massey cab caught my eye. That and the 12m with the stunning new cabin* going to Scotland - she has been fitted with a VERY serious drive package - MarineDiesel plant and Konrad outdrives, someone means business (as in the plant is going to cost something like £95k). Of course there were some small fry including a very tasty 7.4m in fitout and I swear I was going to take a few photos but Max was looking hungry so I moved on...
There's a saying that instead of asking someone if they like their car - ask them if they would buy another one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the case as today the second of these amazing craft leaves the Redbay Shunk Works on its epic journey to Svalbord
The operators of these craft have also take an option on one of the new 14m cabin RIBs - congratulations to all at Team Redbay
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Maximum Preparation - Maximum Fun
Better Moment, based in Svalbard, have just placed an order for a brand spanking new Redbay Stormforce 1250, the 3rd Redbay in their fleet and they need help to name it (hopefully Redbay McRedbayface doesn't work)
