See the first of class on Seawork pontoon

The innovative 11.1m LOA vessel will perform a primary service as the Rye pilot boat operating out of the small East Sussex UK port but considerable effort has gone into designing a most versatile vessel which can also be used for survey, police surveillance, pushing, towing, as a rescue launch and as a multi-purpose workboat.

The newbuild will replace an existing Lochin 33 which is living testament to the durability of Lochin craft, having provided 32 years service for the UK Environment Agency. The new Lochin 366 will operate under contractual arrangements with Briggs Commercial Ltd. A lengthy consultation process addressing the many operational requirements to be packaged into one vessel led to naval architects and consultants Amgram Ltd providing a design which is being built by Goodchild Marine Services on behalf of Lochin Marine International Ltd.

Lochin built the wheelhouse at Newhaven, which was then transported to Goodchild facilities in Norfolk where Goodchild was laying up the hull and is completing the vessel. It is a well established collaborative relationship, with Lochin sales manager David Leigh saying, “Goodchild has very good facilities. We rank them as the best boat builder in the UK. The quality of the build is outstanding.”

The multi-function craft meets MCA SCV Category 3 requirements with a Pilot Boat Endorsement. Pilotage was a prerequisite requirement of the design, as was the ability to work as an auxiliary tug, pushing and positioning ships. For the latter requirement a tow post is strategically positioned aft and the bow area has been strengthened with additional and forward facing frames built into the hull. The vessel generates 4.5 tons bollard pull from its twin Perkins M300C marine diesels. These generate 300 hp each, driving Clements five blade propellers and shafts through an MGX 5095 remote V-drive gearbox with QuickShift controls. There is a Vetus hydraulic bow thruster and PTOs for auxiliary pumps on both engines. A sea pump is fitted for assistance should a fire fighting role arise.

General harbour duties will include laying buoys, removing obstructions from the water and general assistance to harbour users. A lifting derrick on the aft deck has a capacity of 250 kg at 1.5m reach, with a two speed manual winch. A CJ side mounted electric capstan winch has a one ton capacity. The fixed tow post has a safe working load of up to one ton bollard pull.

With Rye situated at the confluence of the rivers Rother, Tillingham and Brede, some river duties may also be required of the vessel. This is where its moulded beam of 3.83m and draught of only 1.1m will prove useful design considerations. Trolling valves are fitted to assist slow speeds and the hydraulic bow thruster will be of service for close quarters manoeuvring.

In the rivers or at sea, the vessel is fully equipped to provide rescue emergency back-up, with a sea rescue kit supplied to Code which includes a Jason’s Cradle, an 8 person SOLAS B liferaft, flare pack, Mastersave recovery pole and Rescue 406 EPIRB.

The vessel is also designed to accommodate a full complement of small survey vessel equipment, including sophisticated depth analysis equipment. Wheelhouse electronics include an Icom IC-M601 VHF radio, a Raymarine C120 12” plotter/radar/colour sounder and 4kW radome, Raystar 125 GPS, a Raymarine 250 AIS system, Raymarine ST6001 autopilot and CCTV.

Lochin Marine can deliver this design in 10m, 11.1m, or 12m versions, built bespoke to customer requirements in every instance. Over the last year, Goodchild has been developing the ORC 17m pilot boat design for Estuary Service Ltd and will be trialling the first of class vessel next year.

In addition to their shared interest in the Rye Pilot Boat on the Seawork pontoon, Lochin Marine can be found within Seawork on Stand A339 while Goodchild will be receiving visitors on stand B49.