Photo of one entering Ijmuiden by Jan Plug.

The IMT978 appears to be a particularly effective design, obviously intended to compete with the all conquering UT755. It appears to be of similar dimensions and is similarly powered, but has a deck area of 790 m2. As well as being designed by Offshore Ship Designers, the vessels of the class built so far have been constructed at Balenciaga in Spain. The first entered service for North Star in 2007 and the second for the same company in 2009. These designs are said to be favoured by shipyards, because they are not required to cram a quart into a pint pot.

TYPE: IMT 978		NAME: Grampian Talisker		PHOTO: Vic Gibson
GENERAL		PROPULSION		CARGO CAPACITY
Length OA	78.2 m	Engines	2 x MAK 6M25	Fuel	1484 m3
Breadth	17.0 m	BHP/kW	5600/4120	Pot water	790 m3
DWT	3890 t	For'd Thrusters	2 x 800 bhp	Mud	559 m3
Deck area	790 m2	Az Thruster	-	Base oil	233 m3
		Aft Thrusters	2 x 800 bhp	Brine	374 m3
Year built	2009	Joystick	Kongsberg	Dry bulk	264 m3
Shipyard	Balenciaga	DPII	Kongsberg	Tank Cleaning	Yes
Previous names	-
Comments	-