Ocean Spirit 43 · Motorised survey catamaran
SAMSA Category A · Moored at Durban Marina
Vaquita is an Ocean Spirit 43, a high-volume 43-foot catamaran designed by Woods (UK) and built by Coplan Boats. Configured as a motorised vessel, she capitalises on the fuel efficiency of round-bilge hulls and the stability of her 7.85 m beam. Purpose-built for hydrographic survey work, with structural reinforcement for transducer poles, two onboard winches, and 10 to 14 day continuous offshore endurance at survey speed.
At a glance
| Length overall | 12.9 m (43 ft) |
|---|---|
| Beam | 7.85 m |
| Draft | 1.25 m |
| Engines | 2 × Yanmar 4JH57 (57 hp) |
| Cruise speed | 8 knots |
| Survey speed | 5.5 knots |
| Endurance | 10 to 14 days, 24-hour ops |
| Accommodation | 4 cabins, up to 8 berths |
| Classification | SAMSA Category A (unrestricted offshore) |
Built for survey work
Vaquita is set up to take serious survey kit. A rear stainless-steel support carries a 70 mm transducer pole adjustable from 200 mm to 1 000 mm below the hull, sized for sub-bottom profilers, multibeam sonar (Reson 7101 or equivalent), and side-scan systems. A Runva 9500 lbs electronic winch handles hydrographic equipment and tow loads (side-beam, magnetometer, sampling nets) up to 1 300 kg.
For geotechnical work, a stainless-steel hydraulic winch with 300 m of 6 mm dyneema and a swivelling forward hoist lifts up to 1 000 kg of sediment grab or sample cradle, with a high-pressure saltwater wash-down. Onboard hydraulics are driven off the port engine through an electromagnetic clutch.
Power comes from a 2.5 kW Trina solar array, 8 × 1.2 kWh Hubble lithium house batteries, and dual Victron MultiPlus II 3 kVA inverters. Enough headroom for multi-day deployments without idling engines for power.
Accommodation
- Cabins
- Four ensuite cabins. Forward two with queen beds, aft two with twin singles. Each cabin has a shower, electric toilet, and porthole for natural light and ventilation.
- Saloon
- L-bench seating for six around a table, with the ship's office (desk with drawers) on the port side and galley storage below the bench.
- Galley
- Mid-mounted for access fore and aft. Double sink with hot and cold pressurised water, double-door inverter fridge-freezer, gas stove, microwave oven.
- Aft deck
- Covered, with twin L-bench seating and tables port and starboard, integrated power outlets, sample-bottle storage, escape hatches, gas braai, sink, and live-bait well. Elevated helm station on the starboard side gives all-round visibility above main-deck level.
- Fore deck
- Seven hatches: port and starboard rope lockers, central chain locker with windlass, two wet lockers, and port and starboard ventilation hatches for the forward cabins.
Crew
- Cyril Foley · Skipper
- Kelven Grung · Second Helm
- Jason Foley · Deckhand
- Fern Darley Waddilove · Second Deckhand