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Artist"s conception of the new SWATH Ocean-built Houston pilot boat. Swath Ocean To Build Twin-Hull Pilot Boat For Houston Pilots Reportedly World's First SWATH Pilot Boat The Chula Vista, Calif., yard of Swath Ocean Systems has been con- tracted by the Houston Pilots to build a 66-foot aluminum SWATH pilot boat, said to be the world's first such vessel. The vessel will be a Swath Ocean Systems 2000 Class pilot boat, with delivery scheduled for October 1992. In commenting on the decision to select the Swath Ocean Systems vessel, Capt. Harry Lydick, presi- dent of Houston Pilots, said: "While we were impressed with the large amount of space available on a ves- sel only 66 feet, the overriding factor was the extremely stable ride at- tainable under adverse sea condi- tions. When we first saw the com- pany video on how these vessels perform, we were very impressed, but highly skeptical. After mem- bers of our selection committee rode Swath Ocean Systems vessels on different occasions and under stormy conditions, we were convinced." One selection committee member stated, after a trip on board a Swath Ocean vessel, "I feel certain it (a Swath Ocean vessel) will revolution- ize pilot boats of the future." The Houston Pilots service the third largest commercial port in the U.S. and sixth largest in the world, with vessels up to 950 feet in length, transporting over 125 million tons of cargo annually. The pilots board and disembark vessels at the off- shore end of Galveston Bay entrance channel. Since sea conditions in this exposed transfer area can be rough during most of the year, the monohulls now used by the Houston Pilots experience considerable mo- tion while laying to on station or during transfer operations. This motion can tire pilots waiting for vessels and increase danger during transfer operations. Both the pilots and Swath Ocean anticipate, apart from the greatly reduced motions inherent in the Swath Ocean hull form, that the exceptional directional stability of a swath will allow transfer operations at higher speeds than with the present monohulls. This capability, which has been confirmed in trials run off the San Francisco bar, should reduce roll motion on both the pilot vessel and the target vessel, reduc- ing the danger to the pilot during transfer. For free literature detailing the Swath Ocean Systems 2000 Class pilot boat, Circle 56 on Reader Service Card Engineering Visions Awarded $15.6 Million U.S. Navy Contract Engineering Visions, Inc. (ENVI- SIONS), a San Diego engineering and technical services firm, was awarded a $15.6 million contract to develop and update Operational Sequencing System (OSS) docu- ments for Navy ships. The OSS documents provide de- tailed procedures for operating the engineering plants, the cargo and aviation fuel systems, and the sew- age disposal systems onboard Navy surface ships of the Pacific Fleet. In making the announcement, Robert A. Waller, president of EN- VISIONS, said: "Award of this con- tract to ENVISIONS enhances our position as a leading supplier of en- gineering and technical services to the U.S. Navy. It will also provide continued employment of some 80 people at our San Diego facility," he added. ENVISIONS has over 350 em- ployees located at major operational sites in San Francisco, Calif., Bremerton, Wash., Norfolk, Va., and Charleston, S.C., in addition to the San Diego site. WALPORT'S SAYS.. ATTENTI SAFETY OFFICERS We have a library of 300 SAFETY/ TRAINING VIDEO TAPES Produced in conjunction with •MARPOL -ISO 9000 •I TOP *USCG *IM0 Resolution A-647 and US CUSTOMS Regulations. For Additional Information and Pricing, contact: WUSfi WMP0RT USA 840 Bond Street Elizabeth, NJ 07201 1-908-527-1223 FAX: 908-527-8772 TELEX: 139381 WALPORT USA THE AALBORG CISERV MARINE SERVICE Preventive maintenance and repair of diesel en- gines, boilers, burners and all technical installations on a ship. Reconditions of parts. Worldwide spare parts supply service. Service and maintenance contracts. • Designers and manufac- turers of KB burners, Vesta incinerators, Aal- borg boilers and Aalborg thermal oil heaters. Ma- chining. • 26 service stations around the world. .:::. 12 Circle 260 on Reader Service Card AALBORG CISERV INTERNATIONAL A/S : = i P.O. Box 661, DK-9100 Aalborg, Denmark Tel. +45 98 16 33 33, 24-hour tel. +45 30 98 97 77 Fax: +45 98 16 30 22, Tlx 69705 albor dk ms. if f'Mm&MM? 1 J . • • iiLi Circle 201 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
