The military force for the Kingdom of Bahrain has purchased a folding, self-propelled WorkFloat to support its growing naval fleet.
Once afloat, the 12-meter-by-6-meter WorkFloat will provide a work platform for a range of support tasks in their naval port. The WorkFloat’s equipment includes a 10-tonne crane that can lift just under half a ton at 13 meters, a deck load capacity of over 10 tonnes, a 2-tonne deck winch that can be used for mooring work, a central moon pool for drilling or GI work, full electrics and navigation, bow loading ramps for military vehicles, spud cans for 10-meter spud legs, a retractable bow thruster, and two 70-hp Yamaha high-thrust outboards that give 7 knots and 1.2 tonnes of bollard pull. It is also built to the MCA workboat code and complies with relevant class standards for lifting and stability.
The workboat’s unique ability to fold up (including all equipment) and fit into a standard 40-foot shipping container makes it an impressive package for easy, low-cost shipping around the globe. Mobilization or demobilization takes under a day.
WorkFloat, a Cornwall, U.K.-based company, was established in 2019 to develop the concept. After winning the “The Spirit of Innovation” award at the European Commercial Marine Awards, they have received a growing interest from organizations in the U.K. and abroad.
Toby Budd, managing director and founder, said, “It’s a milestone for our business to design, build, deliver and then commission this WorkFloat for the Bahrain Defense Forces. They have been a fantastic client, extremely hospitable to us while we are here in Bahrain, and very understanding of some delays caused by COVID. I look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
WorkFloat is now designing the next evolution of the system. Called “WF1200,” it is a modular system that continues to utilize the benefits of a spaceframe structure with plastic floats. It has a higher payload capacity, bigger crane options, larger engines, can scale to sizes of 24-meters-plus and— critically—can be jacked up out the water.
“Interest in WorkFloat has been significant since we put the video on social media,” Budd said. “We are now costing the new WF1200 system so we can provide quotes to all the inquiries we have had. The new design builds upon what we built for the BDF. It’s really simple, and being modular, it moves closer in concept to our other product, ScaffFloat, which has become popular due to its simplicity, low cost and versatility.”
The ability to jack up has been driven by demand from existing geotechnical, civil and diving clients.
The WF1200 system will be able to provide the benefits of a jack-up barge on inland waterways, under bridges, landlocked lakes, lochs and other sites traditional larger jack-up barges can’t access.
For more information, visit www.workfloat.co.uk
Republished from Marine Construction Magazine Issue V, 2022
