THE revolutionary designed research vessel Triton, the world's largest trimaran, has arrived from Portsmouth for drydocking following her acquisition by Gardline Shipping Limited (GSL), the Great Yarmouth-based shipping company.

Triton berthed alongside the County Wharf on Tuesday morning directly opposite Ellen MacArthur's record breaking trimaran B&Q.

Following drydocking and conversion work, Triton will begin a programme of hydrographic survey work for the Civil Hydrography Programme. The programme will commence in the UK Western Approaches for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Triton's master Captain Mike Rose, who has been on the vessel since she was launched, is happy to see her back in service after a year's lay-up.

GSL, parent company to the world's largest independently owned survey company, Gardline Marine Sciences Limited, is a well-established ship owner and currently operates seven multi-role survey vessels throughout the world.

Gardline director Mervyn Wooltorton, who played a pivotal role in securing Triton, said: "She is a fantastic ship and we are delighted to have her join our already well-established and highly successful fleet of survey vessels. This is a very exciting time for our company, as Triton leads Gardline into the future."

Built by Vosper Thornycroft (now VT Group) at Southampton the 90metre trimaran warship demonstrator was launched in August 2000. Later that year she embarked on a two-year risk reduction trial programme on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence. One of her main tasks was to seek out heavy weather to conduct trials in adverse conditions. During those trials, she proved she has good directional stability and is far more comfortable in higher sea states than a comparable sized monohull.