Pilot Boat News Roundup | March 14 – Deliveries to US, UK and Morocco plus an order from a Western Australia port operator

New pilot boats have been delivered to owners in Morocco, Essex in the UK, and the US state of Oregon. A Western Australia port operator has meanwhile placed an order for two newbuildings.

New pilot boat completed for Morocco’s Tanger-Med port

Irish builder Safehaven Marine has completed construction on a pilot ordered by Boluda Tanger Med, a Morocco-based business unit of Spain’s Boluda Corporacion Maritima.

The 14.6-metre-long VB Mouna will be operated in the Tanger-Med port complex in Tangier. Two other pilot boats from the same series are under construction at Safehaven’s facilities in Cork.

The new boat can reach a top speed of 24.5 knots and an operational speed of 22 knots thanks to two Caterpillar C9.3 engines. Seating is available for up to seven pilots and crewmembers.

UK’s Brightlingsea Harbour welcomes new pilot boat

The Brightlingsea Harbour Commission of Essex, UK, recently took delivery of a new pilot boat built by Seaward Boat Development Company based on the Isle of Wight.

The 8.8-metre-long Colne Leader will be operated by the Brightlingsea harbour patrol as a general-use workboat with focus on providing pilot transfers in both coastal and inland waters.

The newbuild replaces the harbour’s older pilot boat.

Oregon inland waterway operator expands marine services fleet

Anchorage Launch Services, an Oregon-based operator providing launch, line, pilotage, and cargo services to vessels on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, has taken delivery of a welded-aluminium pilot boat from Metal Shark Boats of Jeanerette, Louisiana.

The 47-foot (14.3-metre) long Triumph VII features bow-to-stern non-skid decks, a rugged fendering system, a bow push knee, a rooftop boarding platform, and an integrated swim platform with dive ladder and removable aft-deck davit to aid in dive and rescue operations.

The spacious climate-controlled cabin has been appointed with high-backed seating for eight, accommodating a two-person crew plus six passengers. A full electronics suite includes multiple Furuno multifunction displays with integrated GPS, radar, depth sounder, a FLIR thermal imaging system, and ICOM VHF radios.

Two Cummins QSM11 diesel engines drive Hamilton waterjets via Twin Disc gearboxes to propel Triumph VII to a top speed of just under 40 knots and a cruising speed of around 30 knots.

Australia’s Fremantle Ports taps local builder for two new pilot boats

Fremantle Ports in Western Australia has awarded local boatbuilder Dongara Marine a contract for the construction of two new pilot boats.

The boats will be designed by Southerly Designs in compliance to NSCV standards.

Delivery of both vessels under the AU$7.6 million (US$5 million) contract is scheduled for 2024.