Pilot boat 1 and Pilot boat 7, built in 1986 and 1978 respectively, need to be replaced. With these two boats, pilots are brought on board large sea-going vessels to take over for a while. The pilots then guide the seagoing vessels towards the Flemish ports.
“The new vessel will be equipped with diesel-electric propulsion with hybrid functionality,” says Tim Van Dijck, director at Vloot. “That system minimizes emissions and can later be adapted for the use of methanol.” Roel Schippers, director of the Pilotage Service, also considers the new boat “crucial to respond to the needs of the shipping industry”.