The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Cellular, Ala., has taken supply of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat, Cellular Pilot, from Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Company. Supply of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.
With a size general of 53.6’, a beam of 17.8’, and a draft of 4.6’, the brand new all-aluminum pilot boat, options the Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull. It’s powered by twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines, every delivering 671Bhp at 2100 rpm and a prime velocity of 27 knots. The engines flip 5-blade NiBrAl propellers through Twin Disc MGX-5136A “Quickshift” gears.
A Humphree interceptor, with automated trim optimization, is put in on the transom.
The launch is provided with a 9kW Northern Lights EPA Tier 3-compliant genset.
The wheelhouse, flush-mounted to the deck amidships and with forward-leaning entrance home windows, is outfitted with six Llebroc pilot seats, one on the centerline helm station and the observer’s seat to port and 4 single pilot seats, aft of the helm station. The forecastle features a reclining seat and upholstered sofa, with storage beneath. The wheelhouse and forecastle are cooled by two 16,000 Btu air-conditioning models.
Outdoors the wheelhouse are broad side-decks, aspect and rear doorways, and boarding platforms on the roof. On the transom a winch-operated, rotating davit over a recessed stairs for rescue operations.
