The Seol Mara was designed as a general purpose survey/workboat and built in 1972 by the Tyler Boat Co., Tonbridge in glass reinforced plastic. The vessel is owned by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) based at the Dunstaffnage MArine Laboratory.

The small size of Seol Mara makes her suitable for use in confined upper reasches of sea lochs or shallow inshore waters where the laboratory's other vessel. R.V. Calanus, cannot operate due to limitations of draft. It is also capable of working in the inner Firth of Lorne, Sound of Mull and northern reaches of the Sound of Jura.

The vessel is manned by 2 crew members who are experienced in scientific operations. Accomodation is available for 10 extra persons on a daily basis only. There are no sleeping facilities on board. Limited hot lunches and drinks are provided from a small galley. The vessel carries life rafts for a 12 persons.

Specifications

Dimensions
Length: 10.4m (overall).
Beam: 4.1m.
Working draft: 1.8m.

Working equipment
Hydraulic A frame with SWL of 0.5 tonnes.
Trawl winch: Spencer Carter triple barrel winch.
325m, 5mm dia. hydro wire.
325m, 8mm dia. trawl wire.

Seol Mara has a large open afterdeck (6m x 4m) with removable aft rail section (width 1.25m) to allow easy deployment of large gear of easy access of divers (suing demountable ladder) over the side. Covered scientific working space is limited to a small bench area in the wheelhouse (1m x 0.6m approx.). A covered dry hold area is accessible through a hatch (1.2m x 1.2m) in the after dech and provides storage and mounting space for equipment not requiring constant supervision.

Engine and power
Propulsion is provided by a Perkins Sabre diesel engine, developing 112 B.H.P. driving a single propeller and giving a maximum passage speed of 7 knots. Electrical power (240V AC, single phase, 6kW) is provided by a Beta Marine generator.

Navigation equipment
Magnetic compass.
PC Based Chart Plotting System.
Furuno GP-50 Mark 2 GPS Navigator.
Racal Decca Navstar 2000.
Furuno 2400Mk. 3 Radar with variable range marker.
JMC Colour video echo sounder.
Simrad EL Echo Sounder.
Sailor MF communications Rx Type 104 Tx Type 121.
Cellular phone
ICOM VHF Type M120.
Euronav computer chart system.