The Association of Maryland Pilots, Baltimore, has taken delivery of a new high-speed pilot boat built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., Somerset, Mass. The vessel is a sistership to the association’s first Baltimore Class launch, which was delivered four years ago.
The all-aluminum pilot boat Federal Hill measures 48.5' in length overall, with a beam of 15.6' and a draft of 4'. It features a Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull and is powered by twin Volvo Penta D13 EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, each rated at 600 hp at 1,900 rpm, supplied by Power Products. The engines drive five-blade Bruntons NiBrAl propellers through ZF400A gearboxes. The vessel is also equipped with a Humphree interceptor trim control system at the transom with Automatic Trim Optimization and a 12-kW Northern Lights M673L3G generator. The boat has caapacity for 400 gals. of fuel.
Designed for harbor service, the Baltimore Class launch has a top speed of 30 knots, making it faster than many larger offshore pilot boats. The vessel is configured to operate in Baltimore’s extreme summer and winter conditions, with heated windows, decks, and handrails, along with 40,000 Btu of HVAC serving the wheelhouse and forecastle. The main engine cooling systems are designed to recirculate cooling water when operating in ice. A squared-off bow enhances safety during pilot transfers at docks and moored ships.
The wheelhouse is mounted amidships on a flush deck and includes a small trunk. Forward-leaning front windows provide visibility from the center-line helm station, which is outfitted with five NorSap shock-mitigating seats, a bag rack, and a refrigerator. The forecastle contains a porta-potty sewage system, toolbox, and storage for safety equipment.
Exterior features include wide side decks and side and rear doors. A Harken TR-31 safety rail is installed along the side handrails and around the front of the wheelhouse. At the transom, the vessel is equipped with a control station and a powered J-Basket rescue system capable of lifting a pilot from the water to the deck in less than 10 seconds.
A Volvo Penta EVC dual-lever, combined-function control system is installed at two stations, including at the helm in the wheelhouse and at an aft-deck control station. In addition, a Dometic SeaStar Optimus steering system is installed at the helm in the wheelhouse and at the aft-deck control station. Each station is fitted with an electronic helm unit and SS destroyer-type wheel. A CANTrak display is located on the wheelhouse console for system programming and rudder-angle indication.
The vessel's electronics package was supplied by Cay Marine Electronics. It includes two Furuno TZTL16, 16” multifunction displays; Furuno DRS6ANXT radar with Furuno XN12A/4 4' open-array radar scanner; two Furuno 4800 VHF radios, two 8' Shakespeare antennas, and Furuno 4800A handsets; two Furuno GP330B GPS/WAAS sensors; Furuno FA-170 AIS, 4' Shakespeare VHF/AIS antenna; Furuno depth sounder 600watts 200/50kHz; 5" Ritchie, Furuno SC33 satelite compass; Furuno LH5000 loud hailer, and Teledyne FLIR M 332 thermal camera with 13" Furuno TZtouchXL display.
