Seaward delivers Gemini, Lybra’s twin, the second of two new Nelson 40 pilot boats for Genoa.
Dateline. 15th July 2016 – Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK
The second of two new Seaward Nelson 40s, built for Genoa Pilots, has been handed over to her owners today.
Gemini features a resiliently-mounted wheelhouse and a foam-elastomer fender with pusher-bow. She is powered by twin FPT (Fiat Powertrain) engines, developing 265hp at 2,300 rpm, giving her a top speed of 22 knots. She is built to RINA rules and complies with Italian regulations for working vessels. This is the 4th Nelson 40 that Genoa pilots have acquired since 1974. They are the ‘go-to’ boats that everybody wants to use when conditions are bad. They have experimented with other vessel types, including chine boats and wheelhouse Ribs, but have failed to find a better boat to meet their requirements than the Nelson 40; hence returning to this well-proven hull type.
Captain Massimiliano Gazzale, pilot in charge of the boats, says of Gemini and Seaward:
“We found the boat to be excellent and more than suitable for our needs. You matched exactly our request for a boat that can cope really well with bad weather and with excellent torque on the propeller to pop out from alongside the vessels.” He adds “ We know we asked you for a lot of detail requests sometimes but the result was perfect. It was a wonderful surprise to me that during accelerating. It is great that the boat is really solid and well equipped! Many thanks! ”
Gemini’s sister-ship Lybra was delivered in April.
UK-based Seaward builds Nelson 29, 35, 40 and 42 pilot boats and service launches.
Seaward Nelson 40 Pilot Boat specifications:
LOA: 12.34m
Beam: 3.58m
Draught: 1.07m
Engines: 2 x FPT 195kw ( 265hp ) @ 2,300rpm
Gearboxes: ZF280A reduction ratio 2:1
Displacement – full load: 12.30 tonnes
Fuel Capacity: 1,900 litres
Max Speed – full load: 22 knots
For further information, contact:
William Rhys-Jones – Sales and Marketing Director
The Boat Development Co Ltd 1, Prospect Isle of Wight PO31 7AD, UK, T: +44 (0)1983 280333 E: william@seawardboat.com W: www.seawardboat.com