COAST Explorer arrives to examine Arran seas

RV COAST Explorer eventually arrived in Lamlash from Ardrossan last weekend, after a week spent waiting for the weather to improve.

 

The vessel, a 9m catamaran specifically designed to carry out the Community of Arran Seabed Trust's (COAST’s) research and education objectives had been transported via land to Ardrossan at the start of the month, where she underwent safety trials.

 

Despite a week of storms, a team of community volunteers braved the swell on Saturday, sailing the boat across the Clyde before carefully bringing her out of the water at Arran Outdoor Education Centre where she will stay until her official launch in the spring.

 

The crossing concludes the boat’s long journey from Great Yarmouth, where she was custom designed and hand-built by owner Karl Hawkins and his talented team at Phantom Marine. The boat can be customised to allow for different deck configurations, including adjustable seating arrangements and wet laboratory set ups, a pot hauler and hydraulic 'A' frame.

 

These bespoke features will allow COAST to develop its research on biodiversity and climate change, collaborating with leading universities to expand its scientific programme monitoring the unique Clyde ecosystem and mapping the restoration of marine habitats and sea life including scallops, crustaceans, seagrass and maerl beds.

 

The scientific research will not be confined to academics. With full wheelchair access, a sizeable wheelhouse, on-board bathroom and fully equipped dive ladders, COAST will use the boat for diverse citizen science projects, allowing members of the public to help with crucial data collection and contribute to COAST’s monitoring activities.

 

COAST recognises the huge potential of the boat in outreach and education.

 

Martin Wood, senior instructor at Arran Outdoor Education Centre, said: 'We are excited to welcome COAST Explorer to its base at Arran Outdoor Education Centre located within the 'No Take Zone'. We look forward to the outdoor learning opportunities that will be available to young people visiting the centre through this project and the working partnership with COAST.'

 

COAST Explorer is an exciting investment made possible thanks to generous grants from The Scottish government’s new Nature Restoration Fund, facilitated by The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, and managed by NatureScot. Fauna and Flora International Arcadia, as well as the Island Communities Fund and Blue Marine, have also been vital in supporting the build and delivery of

 

COAST Explorer.

 

Sophie Benbow, head of marine at Fauna and Flora International (FFI), explained: 'This boat will enable COAST, a long-term partner of FFI and the custodians of the South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA), to better research and monitor Scotland’s first and only MPA, thus ensuring marine biodiversity is protected.'

 

COAST would like to hear what community members would like to see from COAST Explorer.

 

Áine Purcell-Milton, COAST executive director, said: 'COAST is a community-led organisation and we are now, as in the past, calling for your views on what the operational plan for COAST Explorer should look like. What needs to be the highest priority activities for this amazing new asset?'

 

A community survey will be available via COAST’s website and social media pages, where they will soon release a community-designed programme of events for the 2023 season.

 

 

 

 

"attachment_825487" "" "300"] The survey boat is pulled out of the water at Arran Outdoor Education Centre.

 

 

The survey boat is pulled out of the water at Arran Outdoor Education Centre. No_B46coast01

 

RV COAST Explorer on dry land at Lamlash slipway. NO_B46coast02

 

All photographs: Amy Godfrey, Dive Arran