Pilot Boat MV Paga Launched at PNG Ports

Metalcraft has recently built a Pilot Boat for Port Everglades Pilot's Association to a design by legendary naval architect Bill Preston. See her in motion and admire her sleek, purposeful lines - and hear what makes her design unusual and efficient.

Pilot Boat Mouth of River Boyne - Escorting ship towards the port - Friday 25th February 2022

Testing Self-righting properties of the new Kewatec Pilot 1630.

The new design, is based below the waterline upon our Barracuda deep ‘V’ planning hull, fully proven in service with versions operating as pilot and S.A.R. craft.

Like many seafarers I have long been a keen follower of The Nautical Institute’s MARS programme, and along with many other members I listened to the recent webinar on that topic. One theme which was repeated more than once was that it is better to learn from someone else’s misfortune rather than have it happen to you. Having personally been involved in two near misses resulting from unsafe pilot transfer arrangements in a relatively short space of time, I asked how experiences and knowledge specifically about pilot ladder safety could best be promulgated to avoid repeating common accidents or near misses.

Waiting on the porch of boat pilot cabin. Putting on life vest and embarking on boat pilot speedboat. Navigating on St Lawrence River towards cargo ship Federal Kumano. Embarking on cargo ship. Talking stairs up tp navigation bridge. Meeting crew.Taking over controls of Federal Kumano.

According to a report from the Maritime-Executive.com the Crescent River Port Pilots Association wants to raise the pilotage fee.