VESSEL REVIEW | Svitzer Oued Laou – Pilot launch to serve Morocco’s Tanger Med port

Svitzer, through Moroccan subsidiary Svitzer Tanger Med, has begun operating a new pilot boat out of the Port of Tanger Med on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast.

Svitzer Oued Laou was manufactured by Irish builder Safehaven Marine in compliance to Bureau Veritas class rules. The boat measures 14.9 by 4.4 metres and possesses self-righting ability. Powered by a pair of Volvo D13 372kW engines, ZF gearboxes, and conventional shaft drive, it can reach an operational speed of 25 knots.

The accommodation comprises a crew/pilot capacity for one coxswain and six pilots, all on KAB suspension seats in an air-conditioned main cabin. The central helm position is fitted with a full array of navigation equipment including displays from Raymarine and offers excellent visibility and control of the craft when undertaking alongside pilot transfers.

To assist pilots during navigation and pre-pilotage, a table and a console are provided at one of the pilot seats. The console in this area of the cabin has its own navigation display and VHF radio. A spacious cabin forward of the wheelhouse has additional seating for up to five people as well as a dedicated walk-in electrical compartment, a toilet, and a galley.

Safehaven’s proprietary MOB recovery system is fitted on the transom, allowing a casualty to be easily recovered in an MOB situation, while the sacrificial shoulder fender system protects the main boarding area and cushions the inevitable hard impact that can occur under poor conditions. The larger fender also facilitates a gap for the ship’s boarding ladder to lie when alongside, and the bow area is heavily fendered for bow boarding or occasional small ship pushing operations.

A pilot boarding ladder is also incorporated, giving the pilots the option of boarding from the raised platform one metre above the deck or directly from the deck wherein the ladder provides additional hand holds for security. The platform and railings forward are powder-coated black to minimise glare during nighttime operations.

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