VT Halmatic's Nelson class vessel is 15m in length, has a beam of 4.2m and a draught of 1.4m.

Delivery of Humber Neptune's sister vessels Humber Venus and Humber Saturn will take place over the next six months.

Together they will replace the three oldest vessels in ABP HES' existing fleet of five pilot launches. All three new boats will be capable of carrying eight pilots and a crew of two at speeds of up to 23 knots.

ABP operates the ports of Grimsby & Immingham, Hull and Goole on the Humber, with ABP HES employing some 120 pilots in the region. As Competent Harbour Authority for the Humber Estuary, ABP handles some 37,000 shipping movements annually, of which nearly 21,000 require pilotage.

Due to a steady growth of trade, the figure is increasing yearly.

MJ Information No: 21540