Vard to build two maintenance vessels for Trinity House

Fincantieri subsidiary, Vard, has won a contract from the UK’s Trinity House for two multi-function Buoy and Lighthouse maintenance vessels, the first of their kind. The deal is worth more than EUR 220 million.

The two vessels will replace the ageing THV Patricia and THV Galatea, built in 1982 and 2007 respectively. Due for delivery in 2029 and methanol-ready, the ships will be built to a Vard 9 601 design incorporating dynamic positioning systems and batteries to provide all the power needed when alongside or at anchor and contributing to requirements when in DP mode and transits. They will also provide peak shaving and spinning reserve support for the ships’ main generators.

Trinity House Deputy Master and CEO, Iain Lower, said: “I am pleased that we have awarded the contract to Vard, a world-class shipbuilder with an outstanding reputation for quality and innovation … The replacement of our ageing fleet represents a significant investment in the future of Trinity House and the safety of those who rely on our services.” 

Trinity House, established by Royal Charter in 1514, is the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar. It is a self-funding maritime charity that ensures the safety of navigation around the UK’s coast including the upkeep of 66 lighthouses and numerous navigation aids, marking or dispersing maritime hazards, and the licensing of deep-sea pilots. It also supports seafarer education and welfare.