FALMOUTH Harbour Commissioners (FHC) plan to spend up to £400,000 on a new, 12-metre-long mooring and maintenance vessel to replace its existing workhorse the Pendennis which has served the port for 36 years.

Boat builders cross the European Union are being invited to tender for the contract to build the new vessel.

The contract, which is estimated to be worth around £400,000, will be awarded in accordance with the European Union’s procurement procedures.

Mark Sansom, chief executive and harbour master for the commissioners said: “Due to the estimated value of the contract and the fact that we are a Trust Port, we are obliged to follow the strict EU procurement process.

"We look forward to receiving applications and very much hope that local businesses will be interested in tendering.”

He also confirmed that FHC would not be seeking grant funding of any kind to support the project.

Based on the design of the Pendennis, the new craft will be a steel-hull catamaran capable of maintaining small craft mooring and other operational activities such as the servicing of navigation marks, undertaking limited salvage and any counter-pollution duties.

The craft will be fitted with a five-tonne SWL A frame and a five-tonne hydraulic crane.

The wheelhouse is offset to give maximum deck space for the crew when handling lifts and moorings.

FHC hopes to place an order in April and take delivery of the new vessel, which has been designed by naval architect Ian Darley, before the end of the year.

Mr Sansom Chief Executive and Harbour Master, added: “Pendennis has served us very well for 36 years but it has now reached a point where maintaining it is uneconomical.

“Having reviewed all the options for replacing it we concluded that there was no off-the-shelf replacement design that would carry out the range of tasks as efficiently and effectively as our existing craft.

"The new vessel has therefore been purpose-designed based closely on Pendennis."