Displaying items by tag: Oil, Gas & Ferryport

18th December 2015

Port of Milford Haven Choose 'Three Saints' Names for New Pilot Boats

#NewPilotBoats – According to Milford Haven Port Authority, three of their new pilot boats will be named ‘St Brides’, ‘St Govans’ and ‘St Davids’. The names follow a public competition which attracted almost one hundred entries.

Currently the vessels are being built by Mainstay Marine Solutions at neighbouring Pembroke Port on the Milford Haven estuary, the largest in Wales and one of the deepest natural harbours in the world.

The new boats are designed to be used extensively in heavy weather, capable of operating in swells up to 5 metres in wave height.

Members of the public were asked to submit suggestions for the pilot vessel names and then staff at the Pembrokeshire port voted for their favourites.

The winning names were submitted by Captain Simon Harries who is Operations Manager at Astro Offshore PTE Ltd, an offshore and maritime chartering and brokerage company headquartered in Dubai. He has a long history with the Milford Haven Waterway and is a member of Neyland Yacht Club. Captain Harries said “I chose the names as they are the areas of Pembrokeshire I love most.”

Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Bill Hirst, commented “We were delighted at how many entries we received and had a tough job selecting just three. St Brides, St Govans and St Davids have great local relevance and we’ll be proud to put them on the water when they come into service next year.”

The pilot vessels will be driven by the Port’s ‘Storm Heroes’. The marine team found fame on Channel 4’s documentary earlier this year when they were filmed in extreme storms with winds gusting up to 100mph.

A video of one of the launches taking a pilot out to the tanker ‘British Robin’ at St Anne’s Head in January 2015 can be viewed above.

Captain Harries will be invited to take part in a trip on one of the pilot boats he has named when he visits his family in Pembrokeshire next summer.

Published in Ports & Shipping

Tagged under

About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.