A HAMPSHIRE shipbuilder – rescued from going under by a management buyout – has just launched its biggest vessel.

Hythe-based workboats manufacturer Meercat has launched its M18.

The twin screw monohull is multi-purpose workboat designed and made in Hampshire.

The launch comes as Meercat’s order book continues to grow following a management buyout in 2017 to create an independent company employing 16 people.

Meercat managing director Jason Coltman said: “The M18 is a cost effective multi-purpose workboat designed for the bigger projects such as port services, construction works, dredging support and offshore maintenance works.

“She was specifically designed to carry large amounts of cargo – up to 85 tonnes – and our best bollard pull (pulling capacity) to date of 12 tonnes, as well as offering superb all-round performance

Jason added; “As with all our vessels in the M Range the M18 is a monohull and is a workhorse for those needing more from their workboats. She will outperform any of her Meercat predecessors.

“The M18 is largest in our M range, but we can build bespoke vessels up to 24 metres or tailor existing workboats to suit the exact requirements of clients in our purpose-built workshops.”

The M18 was designed and built at Meercat’s Hythe Marine Park, Southampton, base over a 10-month period.

The standard M18 comes as a completely new design and is based on the requirements of the users requiring a heavy duty workboat. The vessel can offer a variety of deck/internal arrangement options and the wheelhouse offers great all round visibility to its surrounding area and the deck.

The vessel has an extremely stable working platform for a multitude of tasks and can operate to a range of 60 nautical miles from safe haven as standard.

Meercat relocated to its present purpose-built 1,600sqm Hythe site in 2016 when it was part of Burgess Marine, which has since gone into liquidation.

A management buyout in November and backing from a private investor secured the future of the firm as a restructured, wholly independent, operation.

Confirmed orders include a £500,000 oil spill response vessel for Europe, a 22-metre landing craft for a Scottish fish farm and an 18-metre utility vessel for the Shetland Islands.

Recent builds include the 15-metre, heavy equipment carrying Spartina for the Southampton’s Harbour Master of ABP.