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 Self-righting test: PILOT62, 17m by Cheoy Lee Shipyards

published on 26 June 2021

17m Self-righting Pilot Boat by Cheoy Lee Shipyards Name: PILOT 62 Designer: Camarc Design Overall length: 17.3m Designed speed: 25 knots https://www.cheoylee.com/product/detail/66/ Performance • Innovation • Reliability • Quality • Service Ref: 5209 (sister-ship: 5210)

0

Article AST announces new order of 9 iRAMS systems with long-term client and UK boat-builder, Goodchild Marine Services Limited

published on 20 April 2021

AST has announced a new order of 9 iRAMS systems with a long-term client and UK boat-builder, Goodchild Marine Services Limited.

0

Article One more K2m pilot boat for PNG Ports

published on 31 August 2022

The pilot boat will be christened Paga after the Paga Hill which overlooks the Fairfax Harbour where PNG Ports operates from in Port Moresby.

1

Video Pilot Boat Hamburg Pilot 3

published on 19 November 2025

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) today presented the pilot transfer vessel Hamburg Pilot 3 in the Port of Hamburg.

0

Video Threefer, three deliveries in a row. 25 mph winds made for a choppy river.

published on 2 January 2021

The pilot boat is a 1979 Gladding and Hearn, think of it as a 70s muscle car on water. The Deep-V hull does a great job of cutting through the waves while giving us good speed and maneuverability. On to the next one...
Some parts are sped up to fit 60 seconds.

0

Article Maritime Pilotage and Sustainable Seaport: A Systematic Review

by Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh & Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero - published on 14 August 2025

Article by Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh & Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero

1

Video Kenya’s First Female Marine Pilot Elizabeth Marami

published on 13 January 2021

Elizabeth Marami, 28, has made history by becoming Kenya’s first female marine pilot. Born and bred in the coastal city Mombasa, Marami initially studied law at the University of Nairobi, but later changed course and went on to pursue navigation in Alexandria, Egypt for 5 years. “I always grew up knowing that I wanted to do something different, Something out of the ordinary. Being awarded a scholarship to pursue this career was God’s answered prayer…,” she says.

0

Video How Stabilisers Reduce A Ship's Roll

published on 4 July 2019

Stabilisers are used to reduce the amount of roll experienced by large ships.
In this video, we look at a few different stabilisation techniques. We investigate how different methods work and how successful they are at reducing a roll.

0

Video Interaction Bank Effect

published on 30 June 2022

Educational and descriptive video

1

Article 11.05.2020 - Vessel Grounding in Singapore Strait, Sector 8, Area VTS Singapore

by Capt. Gunter Schütze, Thailand/Germany - published on 28 May 2020

On May 11, 2020, in the early morning hours, the news went around the world that two serious marine casualties occurred in sector 8 of Singapore Street within 6 minutes.

0