Seaway pilots take delivery of Gladding-Hearn pilot launch

Written by Marine Log Staff
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Volvo Penta powered pilot boat has a top speed of 23 knots

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, Somerset, Mass,, has delivered a Chesapeake class pilot boat to the Saint Lawrence Seaway Pilots Association in Cape Vincent, N.Y.

The Seaway pilots navigate ships in and out of the ports and harbors of the Saint Lawrence Seaway between St. Regis, N.Y. and Port Weller on Lake Ontario.

With a length overall of 53.6 feet, a beam of 17.8 feet and a draft of 4.8 fee, the all-aluminum pilot boat features the Ray Hunt Designs Deep V hull. It is powered by twin keel-cooled Volvo Penta D16, EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, each delivering 641 bhp at 1,800 rpm and giving the vessel a top speed of 23 knots.

The engines turn 5-blade NiBrAl propellers via ZF500-1-A gearboxes.

The launch is equipped with a keel-cooled 12 kW Northern Lights EPA Tier 3-compliant genset.

A Humphree interceptor trim-tab control system, with automatic trim optimization is installed at the transom.

Diesel fuel capacity is 800 gallons which, shipyard officials said, will provide a range of at least 300 miles at an economical speed of about 20 knots.

The wheelhouse, mounted to the flush deck amidships, features a center-line helm station, heated forward, side and roof windows, five Llebroc seats and a settee. It is heated/cooled by a 32,000 Btu reverse-cycle air-conditioning system. The decks, handrails and cabin are heated by a 100,000 Btu diesel-fired hydronic heating system, augmented by main engine waste heat.

Outside of the wheelhouse are wide side decks, side and rear doors, and heated roof and boarding platforms on the roof.

Because of seasonal icing, the launch’s bottom has extra-thick plating.

At the transom are throttle and steering controls, and a winch-operated, fixed davit over stairs to a recessed platform for rescue operations.

All-aluminum pilot boat features the Ray Hunt Designs Deep V hull
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