NEW YORK, December 31, 2025, 13:29 ET
- MarineServices.ie said it has acquired the workboat Puffin and returned it to its home port of Dún Laoghaire.
- The company said the vessel holds an Irish Marine Survey Office P5 licence and is equipped with certified lifting gear, including a 4-ton deck winch and a 2.1-ton crane.
- A separate death notice published in Dublin set out funeral arrangements for Marisa Fitzpatrick (née Guinan), who died suddenly on Dec. 27.
MarineServices.ie said it has acquired the commercial workboat Puffin and brought the vessel back to its home port of Dún Laoghaire, adding capacity to its commercial vessel charter operations. 1
The move matters as operators around Irish ports face steady demand for small, multi-purpose workboats that can support marine construction, dive support and salvage jobs on short notice.
MarineServices.ie said Puffin has already been used on projects including installation work on an Airfloat MPS “drive-up dock” for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and recovery of swim ladders from the area known locally as the “40 Foot.”
The Dun Laoghaire-based firm markets itself as a provider of marine support and equipment for Ireland’s film and television industry, alongside commercial workboat services and pontoon hire, according to the company’s LinkedIn profile. 2
Puffin was originally commissioned for the Commissioners of Irish Lights and supported Irish Lights operations by towing buoys to its main ship, the Granuaile, from as early as 1984, MarineServices.ie said.
Irish Lights describes the ILV Granuaile as a multi-functional vessel used to place and service offshore buoys that warn mariners of hazards near shipping routes. 3
MarineServices.ie said it acquired Puffin in early 2025 as part of a strategy to expand commercial services and operations.
The vessel was built under Lloyd’s certification and has an 8mm steel hull, the company said, describing the platform as designed for heavy-duty commercial use.
MarineServices.ie said Puffin has certified lifting equipment, including a deck winch rated to 4 tons and a crane certified to 2.1 tons at maximum reach, allowing cargo handling from shore without additional support.
The company said the vessel is certified by Ireland’s Marine Survey Office with a P5 licence. Under Ireland’s Merchant Shipping (Passenger Boat) Regulations, Class P5 covers passenger boats with no more than 12 passengers on board used for domestic voyages in smooth or partially smooth waters or to sea. 4
MarineServices.ie said Puffin is available for charter throughout Ireland for tasks including dive support, transport and salvage.
The charter market includes other operators offering MSO-licensed P-class vessels for survey work and crew transfer, including Sionnan Maritime Ltd, trading as West Coast Work Boats, according to a Marine Ireland industry directory listing. 5
In separate Dublin news, a death notice posted on RIP.ie said Marisa Fitzpatrick (née Guinan), of Dún Laoghaire and formerly Foxrock, died suddenly on Dec. 27. 6
