VESSEL REVIEW | Singing River Island – Fast, durable pilot boat designed for Mississippi’s Pascagoula Channel

Lousiana boat builder Metal Shark Boats has delivered a new pilot boat to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots' Association (PBPA) of Mississippi.

The welded aluminium, 55- by 17-foot (16.7- by five-metre) Singing River Island is the second Metal Shark Boat to be delivered to the PBPA. Like the PBPA's earlier vessel, the newbuild will be operated primarily in the Pascagoula Channel.

The cabin has seating for a coxswain and six pilots/passengers as well as HVAC units. For comfort and convenience, each swivel seating position is equipped with a footrest, adjustable armrests, white/red LED lighting, a drink holder, and two 12-volt USB outlets.

The pilothouse features Metal Shark's patented "pillarless glass" reverse-raked windscreen to significantly reduce blind spots. An innovative two-tiered side window arrangement, with a second row of windows below the belt line, guarantees improved downward-angle visibility from the helm during alongside manoeuvres or man overboard retrieval. A panoramic skylight array provides the coxswain with an unobstructed upwards view when operating alongside larger ships during transfers.

A full electronics suite includes a Furuno TZtouch2 multifunction black box system with integrated GPS, radar, depth sounder, and a Teledyne FLIR M-series 364C premium thermal imaging system for nighttime operations. Five closed-circuit cameras allow the coxswain to monitor the engine room and aft deck from multiple angles at a glance while still maintaining watch. All of these features are displayed on three Nauticomp GB Elite Series multi-touch displays.

Flat, non-skid decks run from bow to stern and allow pilots to move quickly and safely around the vessel. Rugged pilot-specific fendering systems absorb impacts while the stern corners and the bow feature a gentle radius to allow easy underway separation from ships following pilot transfers. Safety rails and grab handles are carefully placed, and pilot boarding platforms are configured based on the operator's requirements. For the PBPA, a foredeck transfer zone features integrated port, starboard, and forward stairways leading to two deployable platforms, thus allowing pilots to quickly and safely board ships from either side of the vessel.

Belowdecks accommodations include an enclosed head compartment with a fresh water sink, bunks, and individual storage lockers for crewmembers' personal items. Acoustic insulation and flooring are employed throughout the vessel to reduce noise and vibration.

Power is provided by two Caterpillar C18 803hp (598kW) engines that drive Michigan Wheel four-bladed propellers via Twin Disc MGX5146A gearboxes to deliver a maximum speed of 30 knots and a range of 280 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 25 knots.

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