Dublin Port Company's striking new Pilot Boat Tolka was in Dun Laoghaire Harbour yesterday for a maintenance lift on MGM Boatyard's purpose-built travel hoist.
The new addition to Dublin Port’s fleet plays a vital role in meeting the operational needs of Ireland’s largest and busiest port as it continues to experience growing trade volumes.
As Afloat reported previously, the new Pilot Boat Tolka arrived into Dublin Bay last December from leading UK boat builder Goodchild Marine Services Limited.
Ninety per cent of all goods into and out of Ireland arrive or depart via Dublin Port. The pilot boat, therefore, provides an essential service assisting ships in and out of the port to maintain the supply chain
Designed by naval architects Pantocarene and adapted by Goodchild Marine Services Limited for the local market, the boat design is renowned for its fuel efficiency, capacity to cut emissions and ability to handle high speeds in bad weather owing to an innovative beak bow design which can steady the hull of the boat as it pitches into the sea.
A separate, flexibly mounted wheelhouse helps mitigate noise and vibration, making the experience for pilots and crew more comfortable, whilst the hull form significantly reduces fuel consumption due to minimal drag. These environmental and design features are in line with Dublin Port’s commitment under the Masterplan 2040, reviewed 2018, to focus on environmental performance improvements in order to reduce the carbon footprint of vessels in port
