OREANDA-NEWS. December 28, 2009. State-owned "Delta-pilot" company ordered three pilot boats to be constructed at dockyards of state-owned “Primorets" JSC (Feodosia, Crimea). The contract for the design, construction and supply was signed on December 2, 2009 following the results of open bidding. The boats are intended for the landing and removal of pilots to and off the ship, company’s press service reported today.

The first pilot boat is said to be put into operation by late October 2010, the two other vessels by March and June, 2011.

According to the technical task of the order, pilot boats to be 15 m long, 4.8 m wide, with a draft of 1,6 m. The main engine at 533 kW. That will ensure 19 knots speed. Navigation area - coastal zone of open and enclosed seas. The ship designed for sailing 5-mile off coast and at 20-mile distance from the harbor. The boats will be reinforced for buoyancy to resist heavy seas up to 6 points.

The state-run "Delta-pilot" was established by the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine on February 4, 1998 to ensure navigation safety, to improve the service of marine pilots in the North-Western Black Sea. The company is also engaged in maintenance of the channels, offers pilotage and other services to ensure safe traffic at all ports of Ukraine. The company has its own specialized fleet - 20 pilot boats, 2 surveying boats, ice-class tug "Gaydamak." Currently the company has 1.478 employees.

The state-run “Primorets" JSC shipyard has its own production base area of 4,516.8 m2, the capacity to process up to 400 tons of structures of aluminum-magnesium alloys per year. The shipbuilder has a design office.