Decktor Shipyard Wins Contract For Two Pilot Boats

Derecktor Shipyards signed a contract with the New York/New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots Association for the construction of two all aluminum fast pilot boats. The two vessels will be built according to plans by Camarc Small Craft Designs of Worthing, U.K. in Derecktor's Mamaroneck, N.Y. facility. Delivery is scheduled for fall 2000. The Sandy Hook Pilots serve the port of New York, the busiest commercial port in the U.S. They operate four boats from a stationary mother ship anchored near Ambrose Lighthouse in open waters and in a rough environment. "The Sandy Hook Pilots wanted a safe, reliable boat with superior ride comfort," said Gavin Higgins, general manager of Derecktor Shipyards. "We focused on a design that would give them great safety features in an extremely robust construction while affording a very smooth ride. The Camarc boat answers all these points and the Pilots were very impressed with its sea-keeping abilities during a recent test run on a sister-ship in a gale off the coast of Nova Scotia." The clean and modern look of the new boats is due in part to the new fendering system, which ensures great durability together with very high impact resistance. The continuous fender is cleaner than traditional tires and also safer because it avoids dangerous "hanging up." Other safety features include: heated decks and handrails, forward raked windows on bridge for maximum visibility of deck area and of boarding pilots, port and starboard side doors for direct exit of pilot from the shelter of the deckhouse to the ship's boarding ladder. The structural design is based on Lloyds Register of Shipping Special Service Craft Rules and American Boat and Yacht Council Rules (ABYC) will be used for all the onboard systems. The hull design is an advanced double chine hull, with full skeg on the propellers, developed in conjunction with U.K. towing tank facilities since 1983. Derecktor plans to use scantlings well in excess of the rule requirements in order to obtain maximum hull strength and to exceed its minimum designed service life of 15 years.