PILOT DITHMARSCHEN

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‘P/V DITHMRARSCHEN’, the first of two 28-metre Pilot Boats delivered

‘P/V DITHMRARSCHEN’, the first of two 28-metre Pilot Boats for the German Generaldirektion fuer Wasserstrassen und Schifffahrt was delivered before Christmas by commercial marine boatbuilders Dockstavarvet of Sweden. The project was commissioned by the owners in co-operation with SVA Tec in Potsdam. All the detailed engineering was then done by the shipyard with FKAB as subcontractor for class drawings. The hull features hard chines, a full length skeg, bulb stem and a square transom. The vessel’s main dimensions are 27.60 x 7 metres with a draft of 2.6 metres at the full load displacement of 120 tons. The steel hulls of the two vessels have been built by Riga Shipyard and the aluminium deckhouses by Aluspec. The engine systems are a package delivery from PON Sweden comprising a Caterpillar C32 main engine rated 895kW at 1800 rpm, Reintjes gearbox and a CAT CPP system. PON has also delivered the control- and alarm systems as well as two CAT C4.4 / 38 kW diesel generators. All engines are fitted with keel-cooling from Fernstrum and the complete ship including 100m2 deck area is heated from the cooling system and a 75kW Kabola boiler. The ventilation / air-conditioning system is from Dometic / Marine Air. A hydraulic Sleipner / Side Power bow thruster is fitted with pumps driven from a PTO on the gearbox. The steering gear is of yard design with a large fish tail rudder and with one main hydraulic pump driven from the main engine and a stand by pump with electric drive. The top speed under full load conditions is quoted at 14.3 knots. At 50% output the speed is still well over 12 knots giving a fuel consumption of less 10l/NM. The fuel capacity is 12m3; a figure intended to provide one week of operation between fills. A continuous running Mahle filter system is installed in addition to the standard Separ filters. Fire and bilge pumps have been supplied by Desmi.