Safehaven Marine have just launched a new pilot vessel for Svitzer. ‘Svitzer Oued Martil’ is a new 15m Interceptor 48 Pilot for pilotage operations in Tangier, Morocco and is the third pilot boat we have supplied to Svitzer in Tangier, with the first and second pilot 48’s working successfully the past 3 years and represents Safehaven’s 47th pilot vessel delivered Worldwide. Powered by a pair of Volvo D13 500hp engines, ZF gearboxes and conventional shaft drive, she has an operational speed of 25kts. Accommodation comprises a crew / pilot capacity for 7, all on KAB suspension seating in her comfortably 27,000btu air-conditioned main cabin, with additional seating for 5 provided in the spacious forward cabin. Safehaven’s proven MOB recovery system is fitted on the transom allowing a casualty to be easily recovered in a MOB situation. ‘Svitzer Oued Martil’ is self-righting, able to recover after capsize by a large breaking sea and capable of ‘all weather’ operations.
Incorporating a new sliding platform, adjustable reach pilot boarding ladder / platform we designed. The platform raises the pilot approx. 1.2m above deck. The platform is accessed from the opposing side to boarding, with the pilot able to transverse quickly and safely across the foredeck. The distance from the ships side for the boarding platform itself is adjustable in 3 stages, and can be set to suit the sea state and according likely roll of the vessel. As such it can be extended out for calm seas, set at an intermediary position or fully retracted in rough conditions to prevent risk of the platform edge impacting the ships side. The adjustability also allows for protrusions such as belting along a ships side to be taken into account. The platform is manually adjustable, easily and quickly by a simple stainless steel guide roller / rail arrangement and locking mechanism. It incorporates a ‘fail safe’ feature, ensuring the sliding platform section cannot detach from the base. The position of the platform can be set prior to departing or just in advance of the manoeuvre, once the boarding conditions have been assessed.
A full suite of Raymarine electronics are installed at her central helm position which provides excellent all round visibility and control of the craft when undertaking alongside ship pilot transfers. Fitted with Safehaven’s sacrificial shoulder fender system, protecting the main boarding area and cushioning the inevitable hard impact that can occur in poor conditions, the larger fender also facilitating a gap for the ships boarding ladder to lie when alongside without getting trapped.
Above, her central helm position with all navigational screens and instrumentation easily viewable and accessible with excellent all round visibility. Below, left, spacious forward accommodation and right main cabin pilot seating arrangements with a table and console for one of the pilot seats to port incorporating a 16” navigation display and VHF.
She is due to be delivered at the end of March after completion of commissioning and sea trials after what was another challenging, but successful Covid build without any visits by the client due to travel restrictions, with handover being undertaken remotely by video conference aboard, which is a fine testimony to the yard being trusted in its abilities to deliver high quality pilot vessels without extensive client supervision.
