Written by
Nick Blenkey
New launch has a high velocity of 27 knots
The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Cellular, Ala., has taken supply of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Company. Supply of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.
With a size total of 53.6 toes, a beam of 17.8 feer and a draft of 4.6 toes, 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 671 bhp at 2,100 rpm and turning 5-bladed NiBrAl propellers through Twin Disc MGX-5136A “Quickshift” gears to provide the launch a high velocity of 27 knots.
A Humphree interceptor, with computerized trim optimization, is put in on the transom.
The launch is provided with a 9 kW 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 items.
Outdoors the wheelhouse are broad side-decks, aspect and rear doorways, and boarding platforms on the roof. On the transom of the brand new Alabama pilot launch is a winch-operated, rotating davit over a recessed stairs for rescue operations.
