VESSEL REVIEW | Foundation Pilot & Chebucto Pilot – Pilot boat pair to operate along Canada's Atlantic coast

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA), the organisation responsible for providing marine pilotage services along Canada’s Atlantic coast, has taken delivery of two new pilot boats in a series built by Armon Shipyard of Spain.

Foundation Pilot and Chebucto Pilot (named after the Mi'kmaq translation of "large harbour") feature advanced technology, safety systems, and environmentally conscious equipment. The newbuilds each have all-aluminium construction, an LOA of 19.9 metres (65.3 feet), a beam of 6.4 metres (21 feet), and twin MAN inboard engines.

Ergonomic and safety-centric layout

Each boat’s wheelhouse contains a central helm station and a navigator’s station slightly offset to starboard; forward-angled windscreens that help reduce glare, especially from the helm station; Shockwave Corbin shock mitigation seating; and upward-facing windows to provide the coxswain with improved situational awareness, especially when manoeuvring alongside larger vessels prior to facilitating transfers.

Also found on each of the new APA pilot boats are safety railings fitted inboard and along the perimeter of the wheelhouse. These allow transfers of personnel to other vessels to be undertaken on either side of the bow or along the full side deck areas, thus ensuring greater operational flexibility.

Liveaboard accommodation coupled with modern navigation and control electronics

The electronics suite on each boat includes two Furuno radars and a Sedni Diamar marine automation system with alarm monitoring and control functions. Two Seematz searchlights are also fitted to assist in navigation under low-visibility conditions.

The onboard facilities meanwhile include a galley, a dinette, a toilet with shower. A recovery basket can be easily deployed into and recovered from the water via the stern during MOB accidents.

Foundation Pilot and Chebucto Pilot will be operated at the Port of Halifax in Nova Scotia.