The UK Harwich Haven’s four pilot boats, Saint Brendan, Saint Christopher, Saint Cuthbert and Saint Edmund, are entering their mid-life rolling refit stage.
Harwich Haven Authority’s (HHA) Marine Engineering Manager Matthew Pearson says, choosing the correct wipers is critical for these kinds of boats, “Our pilot vessels travel a total of 48,000 nautical miles each year. From 01/05/23 to 01/05/2024 Distance travelled was 116,592 nm. Because they work in all weathers in significant wave heights of up to three metres, they ship green water over their windscreens as a matter of course. Clearing this water with wipers that work effectively, are reliable long term, and easy to fix and service is a key consideration. Any wiper problem can keep a HHA pilot boat in port.”
DuroWipers is supplying four sets of three Class 90 DuroWipers, driven by a 24 Volt 80NM Bosch Motor, for each of the pilot boats which were all built at Holyhead Marine to a design by Camarc and delivered between 2010 and 2013.
Matthew Pearson continues, “Our pilot boats were originally supplied with wipers of European manufacture that were not offering the level of reliability we require. We went through many sets of these wipers, which in some cases have failed in just 1-2 years. Apart from the cost and inconvenience of our pilot boats being off service, we were also becoming concerned about the carbon footprint of replacement wipers and parts coming from Europe.
“We trialled a set of DuroWipers over the harsh conditions of December and January on the Saint Brendan and placed the order for the other vessels on the strength of their simplicity, strength and reliability. DuroWipers also custom built the control panels for us which was a useful addition.”
