Article courtesy of www.BairdMaritime.com
The Brightlingsea Harbour Commission of Essex, UK, recently took delivery of a new pilot boat built by Seaward Boat Development Company based on the Isle of Wight.
The 8.8-metre-long Colne Leader will be operated by the Brightlingsea harbour patrol as a general-use workboat with
focus on providing pilot transfers in both coastal and inland waters. Its area of operations will also encompass its namesake, the River Colne, which is also a tributary of the Thames.
Having established the need to replace the harbour’s previous pilot boat, the commission undertook an extensive
research programme to identify the type of vessel and equipment specification required. Advice was sought from the
Work Boat Association, coding surveyors, naval architects, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, other ports, the pilots, shipping organisations, and professional workboat skippers.
Photo: MarineTraffic.com / BairdMaritime
Photo: MarineTraffic.com / BairdMaritime
