

(Posted on 11/07/21)
Associated British Ports (ABP) has welcomed the first of five new pilot launch vessels to the UK’s busiest trading estuary, the Humber.
Earlier this year ABP announced an investment of around £9 million to build nine new pilot launch vessels. ABP Humber will be receiving five vessels in total. Three vessels will be heading to ABP Southampton in 2022 and one to ABP South Wales in 2023.
The first vessel received a warm welcome at the Port of Grimsby last week. Named the OUSE, the vessel boasts improved fuel efficiency, helping to reduce emissions, a vital step towards tackling climate change.
Simon Bird, ABP Humber Regional Director said, “It is an exciting time for ABP to receive the first of its new pilot launches. The pilotage service ABP provides on the Humber is key to keeping Britain trading, and ongoing investment in new technology and equipment ensures the service can continue to be delivered to the highest standard, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
“All the new vessels arriving to the Humber will be named after some of the estuary’s main tributaries. The estuary itself is key to everything ABP achieves on the Humber, so it seemed appropriate to recognise the tributaries that keep the Humber flowing.”
On the Humber, vessels over 60 metres in length must be navigated through the Humber Estuary by an ABP Humber Pilot. For the pilots to reach the vessels coming into the estuary and back out again, they are transported to and from the ship by a pilot launch vessel.
ABP’s pilot launch vessels are operated by a launch crew, consisting of a coxswain who navigates the vessel, and deckhands, who maintain the vessel’s equipment on the deck and assist with many other pilotage operations such as mooring.
Earlier this year ABP Humber welcomed four new recruits to the pilot launch service. Alex Harvey, Jamie Rawson, Hollie Lewis and Linn Andersson joined ABP as pilot launch crew deckhands.
The new crew members brought with them a great deal of experience, including offshore lifeboat, armed forces, and international deckhand qualifications.
ABP Humber Deckhand, Hollie Lewis said, “The crew are looking forward to working on the new pilot launch vessels as they arrive in the Humber. Not only is the OUSE quieter and more comfortable, it greatly benefits from modernised safety features. We are excited to see how the OUSE stands up to the Humber’s seasonal challenges, but we are in no doubt she will deliver everything we need her to when called upon.”
LOGISTEC Corporation, a leading marine and environmental services provider, has announced its financial... Read more
Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), and Adam... Read more
Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, has... Read more
Grain handling at the Port of Immingham is increasing thanks to the new opportunities presented by investment... Read more
Marcor Stevedoring has signed a contract adding Liebherr’s largest and most powerful mobile harbour... Read more
AD Ports Group, an Abu Dhabi based leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, and... Read more
LOGISTEC Stevedoring Inc., a subsidiary of LOGISTEC Corporation, a leading North American marine and... Read more
End-of-year figures for total traffic in the Spanish Port of Bilbao stand at 32.7 million tonnes, up... Read more
The Port of Sept-Îles and LOGISTEC Arrimage Inc. have announced that they have reached the impressive... Read more
The war in Ukraine led to unprecedented changes in goods flows last year. At 467.4 million tonnes, total... Read more