Alabama Pilots Receive New Launch from Gladding-Hearn

The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Mobile, Ala., has taken delivery of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat, Mobile Pilot, from Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Delivery of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.

With a length overall of 53.6’, a beam of 17.8’, and a draft of 4.6’, the new all-aluminum pilot boat, features the Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull. It is powered by twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines, each delivering 671Bhp at 2100 rpm and a top speed of 27 knots. The engines turn 5-blade NiBrAl propellers via Twin Disc MGX-5136A “Quickshift” gears.

A Humphree interceptor, with automatic trim optimization, is installed at the transom.

The launch is equipped with a 9kW Northern Lights EPA Tier 3-compliant genset.

The wheelhouse, flush-mounted to the deck amidships and with forward-leaning front windows, is outfitted with six Llebroc pilot seats, one at the centerline helm station and the observer’s seat to port and four single pilot seats, aft of the helm station. The forecastle includes a reclining seat and upholstered settee, with storage below. The wheelhouse and forecastle are cooled by two 16,000 Btu air-conditioning units.

Outside the wheelhouse are wide side-decks, side and rear doors, and boarding platforms on the roof. At the transom a winch-operated, rotating davit over a recessed stairs for rescue operations.