Order for two more SWATH@A&R pilot tenders

Two SWATH@A&R pilot tenders - new build for Nederlands Loodswezen by Abeking and Rasmussen

Satisfied faces after signing the contract Photo: A & R Lemwerder

20 years after Nederlands Loodswezen built the first of two 25m SWATH@A&R (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) has sealed this long-standing good relationship with a new contract. The latest generation of 25m SWATH@A&R pilot tenders were commissioned on Friday 18 October 2024 and will enter service off the Dutch coast in the coming years.

The new ships are around 20 % more fuel-efficient than their predecessors. Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R) won the tender process launched in April 2023. This sustainable fleet is financed by the Dutch bank BNG. The SWATH@A&R pilot transfer vessels are based on the SWATH hull form developed by A&R, which enables safe passage even in heavy seas.

Nederlands Loodswezen supports the approximately 450 pilots registered in the Netherlands. The pilot organisation thus plays an important role in the efficient flow of traffic and the safety of the Dutch and Flemish ports on the Scheldt, around the clock.