Keel laid for Port of Hamburg's new pilot boat

Estonian boatbuilder Baltic Workboats has laid the keel of a new pilot boat ordered by German vessel operator Flotte Hamburg, a subsidiary of the Hamburg Port Authority.

Named Hamburg Pilot 4, the vessel will have an LOA of 17.95 metres, a beam of 5.87 metres, a maximum draught of only 1.5 metres, and space for two crewmembers plus pilots. A wave-piercing bow will ensure smooth handling even in rough seas while an automatic trim system will guarantee increased comfort and reduced fuel consumption.

Whereas many of the other newbuild vessels recently delivered to Flotte Hamburg had battery hybrid propulsion systems, the new pilot boat will run on traditional marine fuels but may be configured to accommodate climate-neutral e-fuels in the future.

The propulsion, which will deliver an operational speed of 20 knots, will also feature an exhaust gas aftertreatment system consisting of catalytic converters and particulate filters.

Delivery of Hamburg Pilot 4 is scheduled for later this year. Earlier sister Hamburg Pilot 3 was recently launched in Estonia.