Article courtesy BAIRD Maritime – Photo: Southern Ports Authority
The Southern Ports Authority of Western Australia recently welcomed a new pilot boat into service.
Built by Hart Marine of Victoria, the boat has been named Wardan after the sea water off Wardandi Country, where it will also primarily operate. The vessel’s main area of responsibility will be the waters surrounding the Port of Bunbury, a key import and export facility that serves Western Australia’s mineral sands industry.
Wardan has an LOA of 17 metres, a beam of five metres, and a top speed of 24.6 knots. The lightweight construction guarantees enhanced seakeeping and improved resistance to corrosion while the prominent wave-piercing beak bow reduces vertical slamming and helps ensure a smoother ride even at the high transit speeds at which the boat will normally operate.
The pilot boat design originally developed by French naval architecture firm Pantocarene also possesses self-righting ability, allowing the boat to continue to operate after it recovers from a weather-induced capsizing. Key features include dampers on all ventilation ducts, engine mounts that can withstand complete roll-overs, fuel tanks designed for inversion, and a capstan to hold the anchor chain and warp to prevent damage.
Photo: Southern Ports Authority
Photo: Southern Ports Authority
