Multicat
A Multicat is a rugged, shallow-draft multi-purpose workboat — typically a twin-hull-style vessel with a large open deck, a deck crane and a winch. It is designed to do many jobs from a single platform: towing and pushing barges, anchor handling, buoy and mooring work, dredging support, salvage, and general marine construction and offshore support.
The multicat's value is its versatility and its deck crane, which let it lift, tow and carry in shallow and confined waters where larger vessels cannot operate. It is a workhorse of ports, harbours, offshore wind and coastal construction, frequently used alongside barges and tugs. For a marine-services operator, multicats are flexible fleet assets whose utilisation, jobs and maintenance need close tracking to keep them earning across a variety of contracts.
A multicat replaces several specialised craft with one flexible platform — it can tow, lift, handle anchors and support construction in the same shift. That versatility makes it a favourite for ports and offshore work, but it also means utilisation and job-costing matter: keeping a multicat busy across varied contracts, with its crane and gear maintained, is what makes it pay.
What is a multicat used for?
Towing and pushing, anchor handling, buoy and mooring work, dredging support, salvage and marine construction — many jobs from one workboat.
How is a multicat different from a tug?
A tug is optimised for towing power; a multicat trades some towing power for a deck crane and cargo deck, making it a multi-purpose platform.