New pilot station vessels for Germany

To replace three 40 years old pilot station vessels, operating in the Deutsche Bucht, the German authorities recently ordered two new SWATH-type vessels from Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) in Lemwerder, near Bremen. Time of delivery is respectively the second and fourth quarters in 2009.

With an overall length of 59.90 metres, a moulded beam of 24.60 metres and a height of 11.33 metres the vessels have a draught of 6.00 metres. For main propulsion diesel-electric power plants were chosen consisting of four generating sets and two electric motors driving fixed pitch propellers. The electric power plant, including the generators and the electronic control system will be delivered by Interschalt. MTU supplies the four diesel engines and is responsible for design and delivery of the generating sets. They are equipped with eight-cylinder units of the 4000 series with an output of 760 kW each at a speed of 1,500 rpm.

The SWATH design allows an all year operation of these floating pilot stations and is equipped with high performance fin stabilizers and bow thruster. The newbuildings will be classed by Germanischer Lloyd and will be the 9th and 10th SWATH platform to be built by A&R.