Following recent deliveries to the Spanish ports of La Coruna and Algeciras Gibraltar Pilots are the latest recipients of a new Optimised Nelson 35 Pilot Boat from VT Halmatic. A sister vessel for the same customer is in fit-out at VT Halmatic's Portchester Shipyard facility and another for Adour Pilots, France is being moulded.
The Optimised 35 features a new resiliently mounted wheelhouse offering increased comfort and visibility for the two man crew and two pilots. Further benefits of the new isolated wheelhouse are the dramatically reduced levels of noise ( 75 db in the wheelhouse at maximum revs ) and vibration from the machinery space. Equipment levels have been significantly improved from that found on the previous Nelson 35 model. The boats are powered by twin
Perkins Sabre M215C or Caterpillar 3056TA diesel engines to give a 21-knot top speed on a 9.5 tonne displacement.
This new pilot boat joins an impressive list of VT Halmatic-built vessels in Gibraltar serving with the Ministry of Defence Police, the Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron, Royal Gibraltar Police, Queen's Harbour Master, Gibraltar Port Authority and Royal Air Force.