SAFEHAVEN MARINE DELIVER A 2nd PILOT VESSEL TO P&O MARITIME.
Safehaven Marine have delivered P&O Maritimes first 2016 fast pilot boat, a 14m Barracuda. P&O Maritime ordered two pilot boats from Safehaven this year, having previously purchased a pilot craft from Safehaven in 2012 which is an excellent endorsement for Safehaven, as a repeat customer demonstrates their satisfaction with any product and company. This first 2016 delivery for a 14m version of Safehavens new hull design ‘Barracuda’ is for their operations in Maputo, Mozambique, with a second contract for an Interceptor 48 pilot version for their operations in Limassol, Cyprus, due for delivery in November. The new Barracuda design was chosen for her high speed capabilities. Fully loaded powered by a pair of 500hp Cats she achieved 31.5kts on trials with a range of over 300nm offering excellent fuel economy and low running cost, fuel consumption at 25kts fully fuelled with 6 persons aboard was just 115 litres per hour. The hull design allowing higher than average pilot boat speeds to be achieved with lower power outputs, yet still offering Safehaven’s vessels renowned levels of seakeeping and rough weather capabilities, her 22 degree planing hull deadrise and fine wavepiercing bow ensure a smooth comfortable ride for pilots and crew, with her 4m beam providing very high levels of both static and dynamic stability allowing a safe stable and dry platform for pilots during transfers.
‘Khurula’ has a capacity for six crew and pilots, all on shock mitigation suspension seating and provides a very comfortable environment with very low noise levels of just 72db recorded at 25kts. The cabin is fully air conditioned, twin Dometic 27,000btu units are installed, one being a redundant system providing back up, and ensuring continued service in the hot climactic conditions the vessel will operate in. The design offers the expected features of a pilot craft featuring wide side decks and an inclined cabin side enabling a heel of over 20+ degrees to occur when alongside a ship in rough weather before endangering crew on deck, and allowing safe transfer of pilots, but also a large aft cockpit allowing light cargo to be carried if required, increasing her versatility. The design also features a spacious forward cabin incorporating a separate heads compartment, storage lockers and capable of seating an additional six passengers when required providing a total seating capacity for twelve. Safehaven’s proven MOB recovery system is fitted at the transom allowing an unconscious casualty to be quickly and easily lifted from the water, the recovery operation safely undertaken via an aft external secondary steering position. A full array of navigation equipment is fitted including Raymarine’s HD Radar, plotter, AIS, VHF etc and a thermal FLIR night vision camera, with repeaters for all equipment at the navigators position. Other features installed include a CCTV system is with four cameras and flow scan fuel monitoring. The vessel is heavily fendered to provide protection to the bull during boarding’s and utilises Safehaven’s special sacrificial fendering system incorporating a larger fender at the shoulders that fits like a glove over the main deck fender and is retained on place by straps, this provides excellent shock suppression during inevitable impacts and is quickly and easily replaced should it get damaged, and has been fully proven in operations on over 30 pilot vessels supplied to ports worldwide by Safehaven Marine during the last 9 years.
