Equipment

Loodswezen uses SWATHs, sea-going pilot boats, tenders, yawls and a helicopter. Click on the photo or the text for technical information.

Conventional tender
A conventional tender is used to drop off an pick up pilots from sea-going vessels. These tenders are only used as back-up.
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Helicopter
When weather conditions are so poor that neither a tender nor a launch can reach the vessel (suspended pilotage), the solution is the helicopter.
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Jet propelled tender (Discovery class)
A jet propelled tender is used to drop off and pick up pilots from sea-going vessels. A jet propelled tender is faster and larger than a launch.
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Launch / Yawls
On the side of the pilot boat a launch is suspended. A davit (cranelike device) is used to lower the launch down to the water. These small boats transport the pilots to or from the vessel requiring pilotage.
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Pilot boat
The pilot boat is positioned at the pilot station at sea. Pilots destined for incoming vessels are transported to them by yawl or tender. Similarly, disembarking pilots from vessels is achieved by the same means and brought back to the pilot boat.
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SWATH
Dutch Loodswezen has decided to make use of a new type of ship with regards to the piloting of sea-going vessels. As a result of employing these SWATHs (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull), the trustworthiness of the pilots’ services will be further enhanced.
Technical Information