The cause of both customers was aided by Teesport conservancy officer Andrew Ridley also being a marine architect. As his pilots must go straight out to sea to meet large vessels in almost all sea conditions, he was looking for a craft with excellent seakeeping which would also be fast enough to intercept the new generations of ever speedier containerships.

The new craft have been designed by Camarc Ltd and are based on Teesport’s existing 16m pilot boat Coatham, with considerable input from Ridley and the current boat’s experienced operators. The design utilises a double chine hull form which maximises crew comfort while also providing the excellent seakeeping required. Andrew Ridley felt composite construction was the best choice for a pilot boat and also opted to have the twin Scania DI16 marine diesels<$>driving conventional stern gear, feeling the keel gives better control when alongside than would be available with jet drives.

The Scanias are matched to QuickShift gearboxes from Twin Disc for their low speed response and ability to take strain out of the entire drive system. The dual order arrangement is a first for VT Halmatic and, despite the cost advantages and the operators having their boat of choice, would be challenging to replicate in light of EU competitive tendering regulations.

However, despite the differing structures of a private company (PD Teesport) and a Trust Port (Falmouth) the two parties worked extremely closely together for their mutual benefit.

There has been substantial liaising between the two, with a team from Falmouth visiting Teesport at one point to experience Coatham in rough seas.

The experience led to agreement on features such as the ‘popsure’ fendering system, a happy combination with composite build which in five years of service on Coatham has absorbed some 20,000 vessel encounters without hull penetration. Other features common to the two boats include comfortable accommodation and air conditioning.

What has begun at Seawork 2005 could go full circle for Seawork 2006, when it is hoped that both boats will appear on the floating pontoon.

MJ Information No: 21118