- RV Coastal Guardian
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Coastal Guardian in Fleetwood, 2008.Career Name: Coastal Guardian Owner: Environment Agency National Marine Service Operator: Environment Agency Port of registry: 
Liverpool, United KingdomBuilder: Abels Shipbuilders, Bristol, England (1992) Yard number: 746 Launched: 1992 Identification: IMO number: 235087897 Status: In service Notes: Specialises in Environmental Monitoring General characteristics Class and type: DTp VIII Lloyds Tonnage: 46.6 gt Length: 16.45 m Beam: 5.50 m Draught: 1.80 m Installed power: 2 × 132kW Propulsion: 2 × Ford Sabre 180c turbocharged Speed: 10 knots Crew: 1 Officer, 1 crew member, 6 scientists. RV Coastal Guardian is a survey vessel which is owned and operated by the Environment Agency. Her work takes her around the UK, most notably the West Coast.
History
In the late 1980s, Abels Shipbuilders began to construct a series of survey vessels for the Environment Agency. Vigilance was the first of four similar vessels and delivered by David Abels for work in the Bristol Channel in 1990. The follow on ships constructed were the Sea Vigil based on the South Coast, Coastal Guardian for the River Mersey and Water Guardian, based on the North East Coast, but spent some time in the Bristol Channel while the University of Plymouth chartered the Vigilance. Ranging from 42 to 71 tonnes, and 15.8 to 16.5 m (52 to 54 ft) in length, they are 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) ships operated by the Agency's National Marine Service. Their complement includes scientists and each are fitted for survey activities such as taking seabed samples, trawling and water sampling as methods to monitor the area's coastline, including use of Meteorological sea surface temperature equipment on a tow fish when required.
Previous Bristol Shipyards with Abels Shipbuilders highlighted in part of the former Charles Hill & Sons and Hilhouse Albion Yard.
References
Categories:- Survey ships
- Bristol-built ships
- 1992 ships
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