Goodchild Marine has secured a £3 million (US$4 million) contract from Briggs Marine to design and build three pilot boats to operate in UK waters.
The boats will be based in Liverpool to transport maritime pilots to and from ships sailing in and out of the port.
The first of the three 17-metre boats, Kittiwake, is already in use having finished her sea trials in May. Razorbill, the second, has recently been completed and is due to leave Goodchild Marine in the next few days.
The final boat is currently under construction to be ready in January.
Each boat has been built using an original design by French architects Pantocarene, which Goodchild Marine has adapted for the UK market, taking into consideration the different operation and recovery rules.
"With the continuing progress of wind farms, the pilot boat area is moving further offshore so we are making faster, bigger boats that can cope in adverse weather conditions with greater fuel efficiency," commented Alan Goodchild, Managing Director of Goodchild Marine.
Each boat features an iRAMS vessel engine and asset management system with a real-time monitor and satellite feed to the port that provides a whole range of information, including the boat's position.
