‘Watchful’ is a Seaward 29 ft vessel designed by TT Boat Designs and built for CHA by Seaward Marine Ltd of Cowes IoW. She was delivered to Burnham by road on Monday 13th Feb 2012 having completed sea trials the previous week. The photograph was taken at Cowes during the trials.
‘Watchful’ is powered by two Yanmar four cylinder turbocharged diesel engines of 240hp each. She achieved 25 knots during trials. She is fitted with a towing post and outriggers for towing absorbent booms in the event of an oil spill. She has a stainless steel man overboard recovery davit. She has a comfortable wheelhouse with four sprung seats and has a good fit out of navigational equipment including radar, GPS and chart plotter, AIS transponder and loudhailer. There is a heads compartment and a small galley with tea-making facilities.
Watchful’s purchase was funded largely by Crossrail and she is intended particularly to escort commercial ships operating to the Wallasea Wild Coast Project unloading facility. We are sure she will prove to be a worthy successor to the former Essex Police boat whose name she inherits.