Article

Port of Townsville expands pilot boat fleet with Hart Marine´s ORC 173


published on 7 December 2021 149 -

Port of Townsville latest Mantaray HM ORC 173, along with all Port of Townsville’s pilot boat fleet is defined by the Pantocarene designed beak bow vessels that are the forefront of pilot vessel desingn worldwide. The beak bow is designed to increase the waterline and reduce slamming and vertical accelerations, this along with the remotely mounted wheelhouse to reduce noise and vibration results in lower fatigue of pilots and vessel operators. Through 30+ years of design development Pantocarenes has been able to signifiantly reduce the drag of the hull form while maintaining best of breed qualities. The drag reduction therefore improves fuel efficiency and emissions. The HM ORC 173 hull is a refinement of 30 year’s knowledge of designing beaked bow vessels.
The client required a similar vessel to expand their fleet, fleet continuity was extremely important to the Port of Townsville. They wanted their users to be able to adapt to each vessel easily from a fleet management point of view. Port of Townsville required a 17.3 pilot vessel to expand their growing fleet and provide capability at remote parts operated by the Port of Townsville.

Port of Townsville required a vessel that could sustain longer runs, that could stay anchored in-between transfers, with option for pilots to rest on the day bed located within the wheelhouse, when not in use the day bed doubles as extra bench seating.
The chosen propulsion system was the VEEM Props 5 Blade with the standard high performing package
Yanmar 6HYM -WET engines with twin disc MGX 5126A 2.04:1 gearbox connected to Veem 5 blade propellers.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Rotterdam pilot boards a tanker thats entering the port

published on 23 May 2025

#sea #ship #merchantnavy #loodswezen #maritimepilot #ocean #oceanship #pilot #tanker

0

Video Storm Bram sea trials aboard Northeast Pilot III

published on 27 February 2026

Here’s a video of recent Sea trials during ‘Storm Bram’ aboard the ‘all weather’ Interceptor 48 ‘Northeast Pilot III’ we built for the North East pilots at Newport, Rhode Island in the USA. With winds of Storm Force 11 and heavy breaking waves conditions were pretty wild, and proved a good test for her seakeeping abilities, especially her stability where she recovered nicely from a hard 90 degree knock down. Also respect to the seamanship of the captain aboard Fokko Ukena whom we filmed and...

1

Video EEMS SPRITER, comes up the Haven river into Boston.

published on 27 February 2022

A trip down the river Haven today to catch the boys in the pilot boat and Eems Sprinter come up river to dock at Boston.

0

Article Handover of Kewatec Pilot 1630 to Gdańsk Pilot (Poland)

published on 15 November 2021

This week, Kewatec handed over another popular boat, Kewatec Pilot 1630, to the pilot boat operator Gdańsk Pilot in Poland. The fast pilot boat is self-righting and designed with extraordinary safety performance for both the pilots and boat operators.

0

Article NTSB investigation: Contact of tow with bridge pier linked to pilot’s ineffective actions

published on 2 March 2021

Contact of Cooperative Spirit Tow with Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge Pier (Mississippi, Lousiana) on March 15, 2020 caused a property damage of $1.65 million est. (barges and lost cargo).

1

Video River Bann Pilots

published on 28 July 2022

River Bann pilots transfer from Athos to pilot vessel Ulidia at Barmouth, River Bann. N. Ireland

2

Opinion How to navigate your way through chaos as a marine Pilot?

published on 9 December 2021

In my most recent article, I talked about how ports are currently faced with disruptive circumstances that severely impact the day-to-day port operations. The COVID-19 situation and blockage of the Suez Canal lead to increased operational uncertainty and a need for ports to endure the situation rather than planning the future.

0

Article Radio Sweden: Shortage of maritime pilots causing delays

published on 1 August 2022

Swedish Radio News reports about major delays for shipping on Sweden's inland lakes and waterways, such as Vänern, Mälaren and Göta Älv.

1

Video Unberthing of Mega Containership | Ship manoeuvring | Ship handling | Tugs handling

published on 16 December 2021

#shiphandling #tugs #propeller #ship #lifeatsea #storm #mariners ship handling simulator, ship handling and maneuvering, ship handling techniques, ship handling simulator titanic, ship handling simulator download, ship handling simulator free download pc, ship handling simulator britannic, ship handling scenario, ship handling anchoring, ship handling and maneuvering ppt, ship handling and maneuvering course, ship handling simulator android, ship manoeuvring and handling, seamanship 5 ship...

0