Both metaphorically and literally; Gobbler 28 Rapid Response Oil Spill Recovery Vessel (RROSRV), on display for the first time at Seawork 2015 will soon be complete. Offering a cost, effective, high performance solution for off-shore, coastline as well as inland waterway oil spill recovery, Gobbler Boats were last night granted the highest accolade at Seawork, the Spirit of Innovation Award.

The Gobbler 28 is a dedicated fast response oil spill recovery vessel with Lloyds Register +100A1 SSC WORK BOAT MONO HSC G3 structural design compliance for distances to 150 nautical miles offshore. The vessel’s 28 foot hybrid mono-cat hull configuration incorporates a recovery bay at fore with a hydraulically elevated mounting for the appropriate oil recovery equipment.

The equipment is held in its upper position for rapid transit to the incident where it is hydraulically lowered into its self-synchronizing recovery position. The special profile and configuration of the vessel’s hull provide good hydrodynamic lift for high-speed transit to offshore incidents, while also being highly stable during trawl-speed recovery operations.

The vessel’s high performance jet drive and 0.40m draft also facilitate shallow water operation, enabling it to reach coastline incidents which others cannot.

The company was founded in 2009 by veteran marina and boat builder Paul Jauncey and his son Simon, together with their American partner Jose Suarez, specifically to develop a new and affordable type of oil spill recovery vessel which addresses oil spill scenarios of all types. Drawing on the founders’ own marine experience and insight and working closely with naval architects, international maritime authorities and Lloyd’s Register a design was developed which is now embodied in Gobbler 28 OSRV.