Safehaven Interceptor for Bristol
Irish boatbuilder Safehaven Marine has supplied the Bristol Interceptor an Interceptor 48, self righting all weather pilot boat to the Port of Bristol in the UK. She is the 31st pilot vessel built by Safehaven Marine and the ninth Interceptor 48 Pilot delivered.
The vessel is fitted with Volvo D13 500hp (rating 1, heavy duty continuous) engines which provide an operational speed of 25 knots light and 24 knots fully loaded. The vessel has been fitted out to provide seating for two crew and four to five pilots on suspension seats with full harnesses in the main cabin. The design also features a large forward cabin and accommodation area.
Now successfully in service at the port, Jamie Collins, who oversaw her purchase and subsequent delivery voyage told Maritime Journal: “We had a Force 7 SW wind and fairly rough following seas pushing us along most of the way, and up to a 5m swell. The passage felt comfortable with the hull design on the Interceptor cutting through the sea and the dampened seating inside providing good crew comfort. Our speed averaged 22 knots, increasing occasionally to 28/29 knots when surfing down large waves. The Interceptor handled very well.”
Safehaven is also currently building an Interceptor 38 pilot vessel for the Port of Setubal in Portugal, as well as one of their Wildcat 53 / 16m catamarans as a research vessel for the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research.
By Jake Frith
Related Articles
MARINE CONSTRUCTION
POWER & PROPULSION
ENVIRONMENT