Nauplius Workboats completes sea trials of utility vessel Burra Sound with Current Motion tunnel thruster

This week, we successfully completed sea trials of the 2108 utility vessel Burra Sound, built for Scottish Sea Farms.

The Burra Sound (21 x 8 metres) is a purpose-built aquaculture workboat designed for demanding marine operations. During sea trials, the vessel demonstrated excellent manoeuvrability and control, supported by a high-performance tunnel thruster (bow thruster) supplied by Current Motion. The integration of a reliable marine tunnel thruster system ensures precise positioning and improved handling during harbour operations, site work, and low-speed manoeuvring.

During trials, the vessel achieved speeds of over 10 knots and showcased impressive carrying capacity:

• Over 100 tonnes payload without crane operations
• Over 50 tonnes on deck with crane operations
• Crane capacity: 3,200 kg at 13.4 metres

Engineered for harsh operating environments, Burra Sound delivers strength, performance, and reliability. The combination of robust hull design, efficient propulsion, and a Current Motion tunnel thruster solution makes this vessel ideally suited for aquaculture support, offshore service work, and utility vessel operations. The vessel will be handed over to our client in Orkney shortly.

Utility Vessels with Tunnel Thrusters for Aquaculture and Offshore Operations

We design and manufacture high-performance azimuth and tunnel thrusters for workboats and utility vessels. Our thruster solutions deliver superior manoeuvrability, enhanced safety, and improved operational efficiency in confined waters and demanding marine environments. Each vessel can be equipped with azimuth thrusters and tunnel thrusters, fully customised propulsion systems to support aquaculture, service, delicing, landing utility, and other specialist marine applications.

If you have enquiries regarding propulsion systems for site boats, service vessels, delicing vessels, landing utility vessels, or other workboats in any configuration, please get in touch. We would be happy to discuss your requirements.