As Skomer was under build, its designer Alastair Cameron of Camarc Ltd received an inquiry from the China Communications Import and Export Corporation (CIESCO), a major Chinese trading house specialising in marine import/export. CIESCO was seeking recommendations of companies capable of building such a vessel for the Tianjin Tug & Lighter Company, part of the Tianjin Port Authority.

Camarc’s reference led to a Chinese delegation visiting Mustang Marine and inviting them to participate in an international competitive tender. Following the visit of a Mustang Marine delegation to China, they were awarded a contract to build a 19.55m pilot cutter, with an option for another. Mustang’s inward mission to China was supported by Export Wales (now International Business Wales), which sourced an independent translator on that occasion and continues to assist Mustang in finding a Chinese partner to build their Ribworker range locally.

Until recently, Chinese pilots would sit offshore on tugs so there was little requirement for fast pilot boats, but with the service now being restructured there is a growing demand for such craft in the country.

The resulting newbuild is ‘Pilot Boat 1’ a fast pilot cutter with wheelhouse amidships and the pilot boarding station forward. The hull is an all welded steel construction built to meet China Classification Society Rules for The Construction and Classification of Coastal Boats 2005 Coastal Service Restriction. The craft is designed to be used in heavy weather under severe conditions and subjected to some 1,000 vessel impacts per year. It is capable of operation in swells of up to 5m and 40 knot winds.

Although similar to Skomer in many respects, Pilot Boat 1 has some notably different specifications. Seating for only four pilots has resulted in fewer side windows at the rear of the wheelhouse. Whereas the MHPA boat was powered by twin Caterpillar C18s rated at 800hp and driving through Twin Disc MGX 5145SC QuickShift gearboxes, the Chinese have opted for more powerful Caterpillar 3412Es driving through ZF2050 boxes. This propulsion package results in the newbuild being the faster of the two craft, targeting 23 knots.

Pilot Boat 1 was delivered by a Mustang Marine crew to Rotterdam late last month, where it will be placed on board a general cargo ship for transport to Tianjin Port. It will be met there by a Mustang team which will supervise discharge, conduct further trials and provide training for the Chinese crew. The delivery voyage to Rotterdam confirmed the sea keeping qualities of the Camrarc design. The boat averaged 14.5 knots whilst encountering force 6-7 conditions around Lands End and onwards to its destination.

Mustang Marine returns for Seawork 2007, where regulars including Kevin Lewis and Lucas Boissevain will be joined by Ian Strugnell on their impressive new stand.