Delivery of Farra Lir marks the latest milestone in Farra Marine’s fleet expansion strategy, with further newbuilds planned for 2026.
Diverse Marine and Farra Marine have announced the successful delivery of the crew transfer vessel (CTV) Farra Lir and confirmed that discussions are at an advanced stage regarding a contract for three additional vessels, with deliveries planned throughout 2026.
The newly delivered Farra Lir is a Chartwell Marine-designed BREVITY XL CTV, constructed by Diverse Marine at its Isle of Wight shipyard. The vessel has now entered service and is set to commence operations on the UK East Coast under a new contract supporting offshore activities.
FARRA LIR measures 27.2m LOA by 10m BOA and is fitted with a quad IMO Tier-3 Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system. Its unique hull form features a fine entry with higher buoyance reserves above the main chines and a high wet deck, which when combined with low a propulsion line provides excellent sea keeping and passenger transfer capabilities. A resilient superstructure ensures very low noise and vibration levels in the passenger saloon with the recordings sub 55dBA at full power.
The BREVITY SL measures under 23.9m load line at 26m length overall. It is also fitted with quad IMO Tier-3 Volvo Penta IPS propulsion and Hull-Vane transom foils, optimised for fuel efficiency at cruising RPM, delivering industry leading performance for vessels of this size, an important consideration with rapidly increasing fuel costs.
Ben Colman, Director of Diverse Marine: “We are delighted to continue developing our partnership with Farra Marine and building on our longstanding relationship with Andy Page at Chartwell Marine. Formalising this partnership with Farra is a significant milestone for us all and we look forward to seeing these vessels in operation. Our team at Cowes take great pride in building and delivering the vessels that we produce and welcoming a new client to our business alongside the support of our existing clients is a huge win for Diverse Marine and UK shipbuilding”.
Martin Rice, CEO of Farra Marine: “This marks the next step in Farra Marine’s growth strategy. We have known Ben Colman and Andy Page for over 12 years and we have a great relationship; both Diverse and Chartwell understand what we want from a vessel.The attention to detail is what impressed me most and there is a genuine willingness to support us 24/7 as we build towards a fleet of 50 vessels. Diverse Marine and UK supply chain have delivered us an outstanding vessel that will join our fleet to support the Offshore Wind sector. We look forward to closing out on the agreement and the delivery of the vessels later this year” .
Andy Page, Director of Chartwell Marine: “It’s great to see the Brevity design continuing to grow through this latest collaboration between Farra Marine and Diverse Marine, and how through innovative designs, it is possible to improve operational efficiency, flexibility and safety in deep-water environments. With AR7 unlocking a new wave of vessel activity and investment, it is vital that we invest in UK supply chains to deliver the next generation of CTVs. We’re proud to be working closely with both teams as the vessels enter service and join offshore wind operations”.
