Text and photos by Safehaven
Safehaven Marine have launched another new Pilot boat, there 20th Interceptor 48 and 46th pilot vessel overall for the River Plate pilots in Montevideo, Uruguay. ‘Belgrano’ named after the famous Argentine general, will operate on the River Plate estuary, also famous for being the place of the first naval battle during the second world war, where the German battle cruiser, the Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled. Powered by a pair of Volvo D13 500hp engines she has a continuous operational speed of 25kts. Capable of carrying 10 persons in her main cabin all on suspension seating comfortably in her 27,000btu air-conditioned cabin with full live aboard crew facilities provided in her spacious forward cabin.
Above left, spacious forward cabin, right engine room and below her central helm position with all round visibility.
Above left, spacious forward cabin, right engine room and below her central helm position with all round visibility.
A 6.5kw AC generator provides on-board 220v power. Fitted with a new polyurethane fender system by Buoyant Works featuring a specially developed version of Safehaven’s sacrificial shoulder fender, 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. The new fender system has saved approximately 500kg from the boat and is fitted without hull penetrations. ‘Belgrano’ also features a high level pilot boarding ladder especially designed and built in house by Safehaven which was developed in close consultation with her pilots. Safehaven’s proven MOB recovery system is fitted on the transom allowing a casualty to be easily recovered in a MOB situation. A full suite of Garmin electronics as well as a Sailor MF / HF long range radio and full boat coverage CCTV display are installed at her central helm position which provides excellent all round visibility and control of the craft when undertaking alongside ship pilot transfers.
Safehaven undertook extensive rough weather sea trials to fully test her taking advantage of a spell of winter stormy
weather and captured some inspiring photos and video:
Above left, new BuoyantWorks Polyurethene sacrificial boarding area fender and high level pilot boarding platform.
Above left, new BuoyantWorks Polyurethene sacrificial boarding area fender and high level pilot boarding platform.
