VESSEL REVIEW | San Lorenzo & Merendon – Honduras port authority welcomes new pilot boats into service

Spanish shipyard Aister has completed construction of two aluminium pilot boats for the National Port Authority of Honduras (Empresa Nacional Portuaria; ENP).

The vessels have been named San Lorenzo and Merendón and will operate under the Honduran flag. The two boats were built to an Aister design and will be the first examples of the type in service.

San Lorenzo is assigned to the pilotage service at Puerto Henecán in San Lorenzo, on the Honduran Pacific coast. Merendón will meanwhile operate out of Puerto Cortés, the country's principal port.

Aister announced in early September that both boats had completed construction and were undergoing sea trials in the Ría de Vigo. The trials covered hydrodynamic response, manoeuvring, propulsion performance, acoustic comfort, wheelhouse ergonomics and the integrated navigation, lifesaving and firefighting equipment.

Agile and stable seagoing platforms

Each boat is approximately 12 metres (39 feet) long with a beam of four metres (13 feet). Aluminium was used for the wheelhouse and the hull, which is of a deep-V design. Aister said the hull form gives the boats manoeuvrability, stability at sea, and a robust structure during repeated boarding and pilot transfer work.

Propulsion is provided by two diesel engines each rated 350 hp (260 kW). When Aister announced the order in October 2025, it gave the expected speed as more than 24 knots. The yard later reported that both boats exceeded 26 knots during trials and described the design as capable of sustained speeds above that figure.

The wheelhouse has ergonomically designed suspension seating for the coswain and another crewmember as well as six suspension seats that can be adjusted for pilots and passengers. A large glazed area provides 360-degree visibility, which the builder said is needed when approaching large vessels.

The cabin also has noise and vibration insulation and air conditioning.

With built-in secondary emergency response capability

The specification included systems for MOB recovery, firefighting, communications, and navigation. Aister said these comply with international merchant navy standards and regulations.

According to Faro de Vigo, the yard developed the design for ENP order from a deep-V aluminium hull model that had previously been used for patrol boats, but slightly longer and wider.

Once trials are complete and the boats have been formally accepted, they will be prepared for transport to Honduras.