Low wash fleet of PLA patrol boats
The new fleet of patrol craft are designed to reduce the PLA's environmental footprint long the River Thames.
The Port of London Authority has placed an order with Northumberland UK based boat builder Alnmaritec Ltd for a fleet of five 13.5m low wash patrol boats which will operate on the tidal reaches of the River Thames.
The design has been tank tested for hydrodynamic optimisation at Newcastle University and Shoreham UK based Amgram Ltd has performed structural optimisation to meet Lloyds regulations. Both worked as sub-contractors to Alnmaritec, which won the open tender with a low wash design for a vessel capable of harbour patrol and pilot boat duties on a platform displacing only ten tons. The neat, narrow package will be powered by twin John Deere 6068 inboard diesels supplied by EP Barrus, each producing 200 hp to give the vessel a speed of some 21 knots. Equivalent monohulls would have required 550 hp engines, hence enormous savings of fuel and reduced emissions as the catamaran design requires much less power to push it through the water whilst also producing greatly reduced wash.
'We have a presence on the tidal Thames 24 hours a day between the estuary and Putney, helping to ensure that river users stay safe, said PLA chief executive Richard Everitt. 'This investment is all about making sure that we maintain this vital presence with the best efficiency. Once the programme is complete we will have five boats of the same design, as opposed to the variety of vessels we have now. This will improve our operation markedly, both for the crews and maintenance teams alike, as well as substantially reducing the environmental footprint of our service.'
The PLA expects to take delivery of the first boat on 31 March 2009, the day of its 100th Centenary celebrations. Four months of trials, including pilotage, will input to any minor changes deemed necessary in the build of the subsequent four vessels.
This first of class vessel is being named via a PLA internal competition, with possibilities selected from features along the River Thames or recalling the names of earlier boats from the PLA's first 100 years. Whatever its name, this first new PLA patrol craft will be available for viewing on the floating pontoon at Seawork 2009.
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