HHA pilot launches pursue perfection

The initial contract with the Anglesey based builder was for two boats, with an option for another two. The build of the second boat, St Christopher, began several months after acceptance of St Brendan and was completed in a much shorter time.

HHA operates one of the busiest and farthest reaching pilot services in the UK, in an area which extends some 12 nautical miles into the southern North Sea. Up until August of this year the St Brendan had clocked up 2,800 hours of service. It has more than proved its worth by reducing fuel costs by an estimated £36,000 during that period.

The 16.6m, deep V-hull GRP vessel, designed by Camarc of Dunoon and Shoreham, remains unchanged for St Christopher although there have been some minor modifications, based on the experience of the crews who operate and maintain the boats. The most visible difference on the new boat is the diagonal fendering added to protect the hull when coming alongside low freeboard vessels and pontoons.

Some changes have also been made to the dashboard layout and position. The console face is now almost vertical, with an 'eyebrow' that rides over the top to shade the instruments, and some of the instruments have been brought closer to the coxswain to meet the preferences of the launch crews. To aid visibility, a searchlight-mounting pod above the coxswain's position has also been fitted with a small window.

Other minor modifications include some changes to the switches and interior lighting. Some of the original polished stainless steel fittings are now matt black to prevent reflections, including those from the navigation lights. The A/C system now cools the forward end of the cabin more directly and the mast has been slightly adapted to accommodate an extra horn. Most of these modifications are intended to be retrofitted to the St Brendan.

"The twin Scania DI16 engines and stern gear remain exactly the same, although we have reverted to an original rudder design that was intended for St Brendan, said HHA’s marine engineering manager, Brian Hill.

Engine speed and gearbox control are managed by the Twin Disc QuickShift system, and the original fitted to St Brendan had five control adjustment settings, allowing the user an option for any boat handling scenario. Operational circumstance later showed there to be no benefit in this level of control for the particular application, and the systems on St Brendan and St Christopher have been altered to give just two basic settings. One is a more traditional direct engagement of the gears, and the other allows finer control of propeller speed via controlled slippage of the gearbox clutches.

The constant rated 16 litre engines have been further detuned slightly and are set to give excellent longevity and reliability, allowing for a structured scheme of planned engine replacement. Initial indications are that the period between engine rebuilds is likely to extend to double that currently experienced and the working life of the new boats could be extended beyond the initial 10-year period.

Holyhead Marine's managing director, Nick Colin York said, "We are very pleased with this second boat for HHA, which is a testament to the skills and craftsmanship of our team here at Holyhead."

While the boat was under construction the HHA received monthly progress reports and senior personnel visited the Holyhead yard every two months. Coxswains and engineers have had input into the build process. The new boat was launched in late July with proving trials and acceptance trials in early August. The delivery passage from Anglesey was made over three days and, while full familiarization sessions were not needed, there has been a short training period for Harwich coxswains before the new boat enters into service.

The formal naming ceremony for St Christopher is due to coincide with the opening of the newly updated VTS centre at Harwich later this year.

HHA has an option to order two more launches from Holyhead and a decision on placing the order is expected to be made before the end of this year. The design has already attracted attention from other port authorities, and Holyhead Marine hopes to be able to announce another multiple order for this class of boat from an overseas customer in the near future.

By Graeme Ewens