Celebration time!
Twenty years is a long time in business, but that's how long Scania has been supplying engines for the pilot vessel fleet of Humber Estuary Services (HES), part of the largest UK port operator, Associated British Ports, and based in the port of Hull. Phil Sampson joined the party as the two companies celebrate their long-standing partnership.
Spurn Head is one of those places. Ideally located on the mouth of the Humber Estuary at the mid-point of Britain's eastern coastline, there could hardly be a more convenient gateway for shipping entering the UK. But try driving there and you soon discover just how remote a spot is this remarkable natural spit of land. And while the road from ABP Hull's base in the city of Kingston-upon-Hull to Spurn may be gentle and serene enough, the waters of the estuary are anything but, demanding expert navigation at all times.
Travelling between the two locations is all part of the job for the 120 Humber pilots, whose task it is to see visiting ships safely into any of a number of ports on the Humber, Ouse and Trent, and out again. Typically some of those pilots drive out to Spurn Head day or night from where they are whisked several miles out to sea to join incoming vessels by the company's high-speed Scania powered pilot launches – for the entire HES fleet today relies on Scania power. Others will pick up their charges in Hull, or at one of the several ports served by HES, and see them safely out to sea, from where they will be brought swiftly back to Spurn Head by those same Scania-engined pilot boats.
"We see something like 37,000 ship movements a year within the Humber Estuary of which more than 21,000 are piloted," says Harbour Master, Captain Phil Cowing. " Pilotage is an operation that needs to run like a well-oiled machine as the shipping lines obviously want to get their vessels in and out as quickly, and as safely, as possible. 'Time and tide wait for no man,' as the old adage goes, and it is certainly true in this operation, ships must reach or depart from their destination ports on time to catch the tides. So for us, speed, performance and reliability are essential factors we demand as basic requirements of our pilot vessels. It's no use having a fast boat if it's not reliable too, therefore we insist on exceptional dependability from our vessels, their builders and, of course, their engine suppliers."
It was back in 1986 that ABP Hull first decided to trial Scania engines in one of its pilot vessels. The success of that project meant another soon followed. Progressively, more and more were introduced into service and today the port operates four twin-engined launches with a fifth triple-engined launch, the Humber Callisto, powered with Scania DI 14 power units.
"Quite simply, our Scania engines have proved themselves within our fleet over the years by consistently meeting our demanding criteria for performance and reliability," says Eric Peterson, HES's Assistant Engineering Manager. "And the partnership between HES and Scania has gone from strength to strength with the passing of time with the unstinting support provided to us through their technical expertise and co-operation."
ABP Hull's standard vessel today is a VT Halmatic Nelson 48/50 equipped with twin Scania DI 16 engines. Each engine is capable of delivering 525 horsepower through Twin Disc transmission units, which are supplied by Marine & Industrial Transmissions Limited, a company located near to ABP Hull in the neighbouring town of Goole.
"We are firm believers in prompt local service," continues Eric Peterson, "and Scania, which has a dealer-point in Hull, meets our needs on that front too. A first-class parts back-up service is essential in this sector."
Neptune, Venus and Saturn are the latest additions to ABP Hull's fleet of pilot vessels. All commissioned during 2006, the vessels are sleek and efficient. "Each cruises at 24 knots and, even in the extreme conditions we see around the coast here from time to time, are capable of maintaining good headway," says Eric Peterson. "They are comfortable to travel in and, consequently, popular with the pilots and crews alike.”
"In our view, these pilot boats set the standard. That's why we're happy to celebrate a relationship that's now two decades long. What's more, I'm sure you'll find these vessels, and the Scania engines inside of them, will be plying the waters of the Humber Estuary for many a year yet to come."
Contact:
Tel:
+44 (0)1525 372494
Fax: +44 (0)1525 372870
Mob: +44 (0)7885 152132
E-mail: psampson@albanycom.co.uk
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