
PORT AUTHORITY VIEW PILOT BOAT
PROGRESS
Port bosses from
Milford Haven recently surveyed the progress being made to the build of
a new £1 million Pilot Boat by Pembroke Dock Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd.
Port Authority Chief Executive Ted Sangster and Harbourmaster Mark
Andrews took a site tour of the new vessel that is set to join the
Authority’s existing fleet of Pilot launches, early next year.
Ted Sangster was delighted with the visit, saying “It is a welcomed
opportunity to view the steady pace of progress being made to what will
be Mustang’s third vessel for the Port.
“Having had our busiest year in the Port’s history during 2007, with
over 51 million tonnes of shipping being handled, we are committed to
providing an even higher level of support to our customers in the
future. This new Pilot vessel will strengthen our existing fleet and be
central to the ongoing safety of Pilot transfer.”
Managing Director of Mustang Marine, Kevin Lewis led the tour which
detailed the construction to date, including the aluminium wheelhouse
and superstructure fabrications. Whilst at an early build stage, the
steel hull structure is also evident, with the keel and many of the
frames now in place.
Mustang is confident of the project’s ongoing success with aluminium and
steel structures being fabricated quickly, due to the Company’s state of
the art computer technology, which numerically models aspects of the
superstructure, deck and hull.
“Once modelled, the information is used to design a kit of parts which
is then sent to a specialist supplier who cuts the various parts of the
structure in accordance with the detailed information supplied. This
allows us to implement a highly developed system of assembly and
welding” said Kevin.
As a sister vessel to ‘Skomer’– the innovative Pilot Boat built by
Mustang two years ago, the new boat has yet to be named. The vessel has
been designed by leading British naval architects Camarc Ltd using a
proven innovative design that allows for greater speed and agility, as
well as enhanced environmental performance.
Once delivered, the new vessel will complete this phase of the
Authority’s ongoing programme of reinvestment in the fleet. A review of
future needs during 2009 will assist in deciding what additional vessels
should be built.

Click to Enlarge
Photocaption: MHPA’s Chief Executive Ted Sangster and Harbourmaster Mark
Andrews being updated on build progress by Mustang Marine’s Managing
Director Kevin Lewis and Commercial Director Ian Strugnell.
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