The Noss Boat Seabird is a 13.5m spacious catamaran with twin 370hp engines – a very stable craft because she has two hulls. We’re licensed, coded and inspected by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency to carry up to 12 passengers, with lifejackets made available upon embarkation for all ages, and a full safety briefing before departures. Seabird is in ship-shape condition, fully equipped with navigational aids, including radar, GPS, echo sounder and all the necessary safety equipment on-board.
She has a very spacious viewing platform all on one level, as shown on our homepage video and photos. This allows you to enjoy fabulous 360° panoramic viewing without having to watch where you step, ideal for the best photographic opportunities. There is ample room on deck for all 12 passengers to sit, stand or move around freely without being confined to a seat or one space. There is a top cover at the back of the wheelhouse, above the seating area which leaves the rest of our huge viewing platform clear for viewing & photography or then you can shelter inside the cabin if the weather is not behaving.
We have an indoor heated cabin, which has further seating for all 12 passengers and viewing windows to give you further 360° panoramic viewing. There is also a table where you can enjoy a chat and browse our small but fascinating onboard library. Various USB charging points should you need to charge your phone.
Seabird offers an ideal solution whether you are heading out on a tour as an independent traveller, or with family and friends, or looking to organise a bespoke experience for a tour group or a professional film crew. Brian and our relief skipper Marvyn, are both very experienced Shetland skippers operating around Noss. They have a wealth of knowledge about our local waters that can only be gained through a lifetime’s experience. Their experience and masterful boatmanship guarantee you will always have the best and safest trip possible in any given sea conditions.
Wheelchair Users Welcome
Seabird is wheelchair accessible onto the boat, allowing everyone the opportunity to experience nature and what better boat than our spacious catamaran, ideal boat for anyone with accessibility & mobility needs. Our on-board toilet and heated cabin are only accessible to ambulatory wheelchair users. The doors to both areas are not wide enough to accommodate someone in a wheelchair all of the time. Please check out our published updated Accessibility Guide.
If you require access to a wheelchair or any other mobility aids whilst in Shetland or wish to arrange before you get here, please do get in touch as we work in collaboration with a local organisation, that can assist and happy to communicate with them on your behalf to arrange collection/return or we can put you in direct contact with them.
We cater for many other needs to make our tour inclusive and enjoyable for all. If you let us know your needs/requirements in advance, we will be more than happy to make arrangements where we can at no extra charge to ensure you enjoy your cruise with Seabirds-and-Seals. You can find out more by visiting our dedicated Accessible & Inclusive Tourism page here on our website.
Just Call Marie or Brian on +44 (0) 7595 540 224 or email info@seabirds-and-seals.com to discuss your requirements!
Saloon Area
The heated indoor saloon has seating for all 12 passengers. There are viewing windows to give you further 360° panoramic viewing. There is also a table where you can chat and browse our small but fascinating onboard library. Various USB charging points should you need to charge your phone. You will find binoculars available to borrow, along with seabird/cetacean identification charts, which are available for everyone during the tour. There is a dry storage area to the left-hand side forward where you are welcome to store your belongings and fully accessible throughout our tours. See ‘wheelchair’ section above with regards to accessing the cabin.
Deck Area – Aft
Extremely spacious large aft deck with table/bench seating and fold down seats under the canopy – plenty of seats for all 12 passengers and crew members. You are always sheltered on-board Seabird– we have a fixed partial canopy covering in the outside seating area, leaving the rest of our spacious platform free, for viewing & photography.
Toilet
Toilet on deck level and equipped with disposable bags/bin and hand sanitizer. A toilet is very much a MUST when out at sea, and especially after those welcoming refreshments. See ‘wheelchair’ section above with regards to accessing the toilet.
Safety Equipment/Lifejackets
Seabird is fully coded and in ship-shape condition with all the necessary safety equipment on-board. Lifejackets provided onboard for all ages and will be demonstrated during our safety briefing prior to departure, therefore we ask that you arrive at the advertised boarding times.
Not a legal requirement but for our 2024 season starting we decided to invest in a defibrillator. We certainly hope we don’t have to use it but having this equipment onboard, could one day ‘Save A Life’.
We look forward to welcoming many passengers onboard and showcasing all our tours has to offer – on our spacious & comfortable Catamaran.