The Hamburg fleet is kicking off the new year with the award of a contract for a brand-new pilot transfer vessel. Following a competitive bidding process across Europe, Baltic Workboats AS in Estonia has been granted the contract to construct the vessel, which will measure approximately 18 meters in length and will be named “Hamburg Pilot 1”. The estimated cost for building the new vessel is around three million euros, with an option available to order a second pilot transfer vessel of the same design.

The procurement process was overseen by Flotte Hamburg’s “New Construction and Innovation” department, in close collaboration with the Hamburg Harbour Pilot Brotherhood. The selection of the vessel model prioritized maximum operational capability for pilot transfer services and high maneuverability within the port area. Similar to the newbuildings commissioned last year by the Hamburg fleet for the waterway police, a tried and tested vessel type is being utilized once again.

Karsten Schönewald, Managing Director of Flotte Hamburg, explains, “The vessel’s innovative bow shape allows for wave piercing, so that the hull is lifted less by swell. This significantly enhances the comfort of the crew and pilots onboard, while also reducing wave generation by the pilot transfer vessel itself.” Upon completion, Hamburg Pilot 1 will replace Lotse 3, with delivery of the new vessel scheduled for 2025.

Environmental protection remains a top priority for all of Flotte Hamburg’s newbuildings: the new pilot transfer vessel will feature the latest exhaust gas treatment technology in conjunction with the synthetic fuel GTL (gas-to-liquids). The vessel’s technology and design are aimed at minimizing fuel consumption. In alignment with the fleet’s new zero-emission strategy, the vessel will eventually transition to running on climate-neutral fuels without necessitating any technical modifications.

Henrik Lüders, chief pilot of the Hamburg Harbour Pilots’ Association, expresses his satisfaction with the construction of the new pilot transfer boat, stating, “As a brotherhood of pilots, we are closely involved in the planning of this boat and are confident that the new vessel will enhance our transfer operations in Hamburg, making them safer, more efficient, environmentally friendly, and reliable.”

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