Belfast makes £1.4m pilot boat investment
Belfast Harbour is expanding its capability after taking delivery of the first of two new pilot boats from by UK-based Red Bay Boats.
The 16.5m vessel, to be named Captain Michael Evans, is powered by Scania D13 engines and has a maximum speed of 26 knots. It has been designed with a spacious cabin and strong seakeeping abilities to enable the crew and pilots to operate in the harsher sea conditions found when meeting deep-drafted vessels in Belfast harbour.
“Recent investments of £100m in dredging and infrastructure have enabled Belfast Harbour to handle significantly larger cargo and cruise vessels,” said Trevor Anderson, operations director, Belfast Harbour. “The new larger and more multi-functional pilot boats will play a vital role in servicing these larger vessels which now regularly call at the port.”
Red Bay Boats says the new bespoke design is a new generation of vessels providing improved seaworthiness, greater speed, visibility and accommodation.
“Given the need for pilot boats to come alongside other vessels we’ve also developed a completely new fender system protected by durable bumpers. This allows it to ‘collide’ in a controlled fashion with ships coming into the harbour that pilots need to board,” added Tom McLaughlin, managing director, Red Bay Boats.
Red Bay Boats, a specialist in the design and build of RIBs, built the new pilot boats with the help of Invest NI’s Growth Accelerator Programme.
By Rachael Doyle
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