Docksta shipyard excel at Pilot Boats- secures another contract for Germany
During 2022 Saab’s shipyard in Docksta has delivered two Pilot Boats to Germany. In December a contract for a new Pilot Boat for Germany was signed.
The customer for the contract signed on December 19, 2022 is the German maritime authority Wasserstrassen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes, to an order value of around 7 MEUR. Docksta shipyard has a record of accomplishment of previously delivering nine boats to this customer since 2010.
The boat, Docksta Newbuilding 590, will measure 28 x 7 meters with a displacement of 120 tons, which is an extensive size for a Pilot Boat. The new boat will be operated by Lotsbetriebsverein e.V. at Brunsbuttel together with sisterships DITHMARSCHEN and STEINBURG. The pair was delivered from Docksta in 2017 and 2018 and have clocked around 16000 engine hours each with very reliable performance in the rough conditions at the western entrance to the Elbe River.
"This repeat order proves our expertise in building advanced, modern and reliable Pilot Boats for an international market."
In February this year Saab’s shipyard in Docksta delivered a 17 meter Pilot Boat to the same operator for their station at Cuxhaven. In November, another German customer; Lotsbetrieb GmbH of Rostock received a slightly smaller version, type Baltic pilot 17.
More in this video on the role of a Pilot Boat. Johan Asplund, Naval Architect at Saab shows NB 588 MEDEM, type AP 17: