Posted on October 19, 2026
Rozema Boat Works of Mount Vernon, Washington, has secured a contract from the Tampa Bay Pilots Association to build a 56-foot aluminium pilot transfer vessel, designed by Camarc Design with a double-chine hull optimised for safe pilot boarding operations across varied sea states.
Twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines rated at 715 hp at 2,100 rpm drive conventional propellers through Twin Disc MGX5136 reduction gears, delivering a top speed of 27–28 knots. The all-aluminium hull measures 57 ft overall with a beam of 17 ft 5 in including fendering, and displaces 61,000 lb at full load with 790 US gallons of fuel capacity. The vessel accommodates five pilots in addition to crew, and is fitted with heavy-duty fendering, a rescue platform, a Furuno navigation electronics suite, and climate-controlled accommodation suited to continuous commercial service.
Pilot vessel replacement activity in US coastal waters has been steady as associations seek modern hulls that meet current safety and performance benchmarks; this contract continues that trend for the Tampa Bay station.
