Sea trials during December's Storm Bram have put the Interceptor 48 Northeast Pilot III through extreme conditions off the Irish coast.
The ‘all-weather’ pilot boat was undergoing trials in Storm Force 11 winds and heavy breaking seas near the entrance to Cork Harbour.
The vessel was built by Safehaven Marine for North East Pilots in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Footage released this week shows the boat encountering steep waves and violent motion that challenged both vessel and crew.
The trials highlighted the Interceptor 48’s seakeeping and stability, including recovery from a near 90-degree knockdown.
Viewers commented on the scale of the conditions, with one noting, “The waves look big in the video but they look much bigger in real life.”
Another described the roll angle as “extreme,” while several highlighted the vessel’s ability to right itself.
The trials were conducted with experienced pilot captain Fokko Ukena at the helm.
He was filmed bringing the vessel safely through the entrance to Cork Harbour in what were described as “very challenging conditions”.
Comments praised the seamanship involved, with one viewer calling it “first-class seamanship and engineering”.
Others highlighted the confidence required to conduct trials in such weather, noting that vessels like this “will save countless lives at sea”.
Safehaven Marine regularly undertakes full-scale sea trials to validate hull performance in real-world conditions.
The Storm Bram tests provided rare footage of a pilot boat operating at the limits of its design envelope.
