Celebrations mark launch of RV
The community of Arran celebrated the launch of a brand-new research vessel RV COAST Explorer with two events last weekend.
The vessel belonging to the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) was officially launched by cabinet secretary for net zero and just transition Màiri McAllan MSP at a ceremony last Friday with attendees including cross-party MSPs, NatureScot, Marine Scotland, senior academics and local councillors at the Arran Outdoor Education Centre in Lamlash.
It was followed on Saturday by a community party for
Arran residents, who also had the chance to go for a short sail on the new nine-metre catamaran at the COAST Discovery Centre in Lamlash.
At the party there was live music by the Arran Brass Band and Arran Pipe Band, ROV (remote operated vehicle) demonstrations and loads of children’s activities, including face painting and a collaborative art piece.
There was also the chance to sea swim with the Whiting Bay Dookers and Lamlash ArrOWS and to grab some delicious bites from the Zero Waste Cafe and the local produce barbecue.
The boat, which was custom-designed and built in Great Yarmouth by Phantom Marine, will make history as she embarks on her first season conducting marine research around the waters of Arran, including the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone and wider South Arran Marine Protected Area.
These areas, which are home to unique marine life and habitats, were designated in 2008 and 2014 respectively after successful community campaigns by islanders.
The vessel is equipped with many specialist features that will be used to support COAST’s ongoing restoration work through their research and education programmes.
The catamaran is fitted with a creel winch, for creel launching and recovery and is capable of launching ROVs and drop-down cameras.
She can also be equipped with her Hydraulic “A” Frame to tow sonars, plankton nets and baited remote underwater video (BRUV) devices.
Modular deck arrangements can be configured to suit the charter with options for seating for up to 10 people on deck and an external covered Wet Lab Area with a sink.
These bespoke features will allow COAST to expand its existing research and monitoring programmes, develop its educational offerings in partnership with the Arran Outdoor Education Centre and other schools, and offer public citizen science tours that allow people to get out on the water and get involved with COAST’s pioneering work.
A recent online poll of island residents and visitors found that 83.3 per cent of people agree the boat will be an asset to the Arran community.
Howard Wood, COAST co-founder, told the launch ceremony: “Investigation and consultation into a potential research and education boat has been ongoing by COAST since 2013.
“These conversations, coupled with information gathered from an online survey last year, highlighted the urgent requirement for such a vessel to fulfil not just a vital need for COAST but for the wider community as well.”
Prof Sir Ian Boyd, professor of biology at the University of St Andrews and former chief scientific advisor for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “People and communities are at the centre of the changes needed to address the significant challenge of shifting to sustainable living.
“Even if we need to establish clear national objectives, delivery of those objectives will