Shadowcat, Tillberg Design of Sweden & Triton launch activity support vessel

The unveiling took place at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami last week.

Design

The 50mtr Shadowlark Pro has a 14mtr beam and a draft of two metres. It can accommodate larger submarines, such as the Triton DeepView, a modular tourist sub that offers incremental capacities from 12 up to 66 guests – or multiple submersibles – and up to 10 crew members.

Its size also offers stowage over three decks for dedicated reception and post-dive lounges, stowage for large transport tenders and dive boat, dive and jet-ski centers, water toy storage and more.

For sub dives, helicopter tours or boat trips

Said Shadowcat founder Robert Smith, ‘For commercial operators interested in adding revenue-generating activities for guests – such as sub dives, helicopter tours or boat rides – Shadowcat support vessels are the most practical and efficient and safest way to do so.’

Reclaims spaces

‘Working together, we realized the opportunity for a fully independent support platform that could dramatically increase guest experiences, throughput, safety and revenues, while significantly reducing the impact, construction and operational challenges of carrying activity-related assets aboard the cruise vessel itself,’ explained Daniel Nerhagen, partner, Tillberg Design of Sweden.

‘Relocating assets, like helicopters or Zodiaks to a Shadowlark Pro, reclaims space and eliminates the need for a certified helipad aboard the mothership and allows for independent operations.

‘It could dramatically reduce expenditure, on both initial capex and integration, for onboard assets on multiple vessels, salaries and maintenance over the lifespan of the operation. The benefits of this solution are easily apparent.’

Expedition

Triton already has experience within the expedition cruise sector, as highlighted by the company’s CEO Bruce Jones, ‘Though our eight-passenger Triton 660/9 AVA is causing a sensation in the expedition cruise sector, the demand for a higher capacity submersible versus the available space onboard the cruise vessel has been a conflict that can’t be resolved.

‘The natural solution is to take the submersible off the mothership.

‘The Triton DeepView is the ideal solution to improve guest throughput and revenues for the cruise lines. Together with TDoS and SHADOWCAT, we’ve created a concept that delivers many more additional benefits.’