Article

Composite Lightspeed® class Pilot Boat for the Biscayne Bay Pilot Association, Miami, Florida


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 21 July 2020 1048 -

Text by Compmillennia LLC

Compmillennia LLC (Washington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) has delivered its Lightspeed® 41 (15.5-meter) Pilothouse catamaran, featuring strong but lightweight all-composite construction with a 42-knots achieved by twin 300-hp V8 Mercury Seapro outboard engines.

Designed for a visionary pilot boat association with a view to economical acquisition and operations, the Lightspeed® Pilot Boat delivers efficiency, low-maintenance and flexibility in high-speed transit, safe pilot boarding and search & rescue missions. Catamarans have proven over decades their superior stability, safety, roominess onboard and all-weather seakeeping. The Lightspeed® Pilot Boat’s all-composite construction features selective use of fiberglass, carbon and aramid fiber, impact- and vibration-absorbing core and high-elongation vacuum resin infused vinyl ester resin, increasing durability and lowering weight by 35% versus other composites and by 50% versus typical metal construction.

The efficient design of the Lightspeed® Pilot Boat combines a stepped hull bottom for speed, maneuverability and reduced pitch with a long waterline and sharp entry, mitigating neck and spinal compression induced by typical V-bottom pounding in a head sea. 100% cored composite construction in hull, deck and pilothouse provides full flotation in addition to four watertight compartments in each hull for ultimate safety at sea.
Matured from decades of boatbuilding and design experience, this intelligent, considered Pilot Boat is unaffected by Bernoulli effect during pilot transfer, enabling a swift, smooth separation once pilot boarding is complete. A rugged cylindrical OCEAN 3 fender system with Dynema lashing provides durable yet easy-to-service hull fender protection.

The 228-inch (5.8-meter) pilothouse provides uninterrupted sight lines from the boat deck to the ship’s deck and generous accommodation for 7 crew seated in Llebroc Tradewinds Shockwave mounted seats. A 5-kW Fischer Panda diesel gen-set and twin independent 16,000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioning units, ensure reliable climate control in tropical heat or northern cold.

The helm is equipped with Optimus power steering and full electronic array. A second helm station with engine binnacle control is fitted in the cockpit. The walk-through transom provides unimpeded access for man overboard recovery and other rescue operations. A transom platform between outboards allows in-water prop changes at sea in minutes.

The Lightspeed® Pilot Boat delivers speed, flat wake, sterling handling and an awesome ride. Operations are fast and enjoyable, while delivering the affordability, flexibility and low-cost bottom line sought by today’s pilot boat operators. Delivered June 2020, the Biscayne Bay Pilot Association’s Lightspeed® Pilothouse 41 has become their boatman’s and pilot’s first choice to meet their unique every day operational needs.

Compmillennia LLC is a boatbuilding pioneer with 50 years of innovative, affordable composite marine vessel design and construction, including the 100% Composite Superstructure for the 467-ft (141-meter) frigate conversion yacht Swift 141, 53-ft Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), air drop rescue boats, carbon fiber Very High Speed Vessel (VHSV) structures and special composite fabrication projects as well as the Lightspeed® 1188 all-composite center-console catamarans.

For information contact: Jim Gardiner (Jim@compmillennia.com)
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Miami Pilot Boat

published on 29 August 2020

Editors Note:
Safety is different
One comment on YouTube on this video:
"No hard hats, no Hi-Viz clothing (in case pilot falls in) the one at 5:16 has not even got a life jacket - absolute cowboys!"

0

Video Pilot Boat Miami Port

published on 19 May 2023

A pilot boat entering the port of Miami.

0

Video Miami pilot boat, Ships & Voyager video

published on 21 August 2025

Here’s a nice video of ‘Miami’ the Interceptor 48 pilot we built for the Biscayne Bay Pilots, Florida on sea trials, with Voyager helping out as the camera boat.

0

Article Safehaven´s "Celso Madeira" for Portugal's Sines Port starts sea trials

published on 17 December 2021

Safehaven Marine have launched ‘Celso Madeira’, an Interceptor 48 pilot for pilotage operations at the Port of Sines in Portugal.

0

Video Rough weather sea trials of ‘Port Láirge’ punching through breakers and offshore in F10

published on 23 November 2021

Here’s a cool little video of the rough weather sea trails of ‘Port Láirge’ The Port of Waterford’s new Interceptor 48 pilot boat ready to be delivered next week. We had two days of rough weather, a Force 8 with 3.5m seas putting up some surf breakers over the Daunt and a second day with winds reaching Force 10 offshore, with 55kts of wind and 5m swells, allowing us to properly test her capabilities ensuring she's fully fit for purpose for the pilots and crew. Doing so we captured some...

0

Video Review singkat|PILOT BOAT Christina 98|| pelaut indonesia di Muara,Brunei

published on 27 February 2022

Video review singkat di pilot boat christina 98 di jetty MPA Muara Brunei Darussalam. #pelautindonesia #BruneiDarussalam #PilotBoat Song: Abandoned & GalaxyTones - Luna (Feat. DNAKM) [Mendum Remix] [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://NCS.io/LunaRMX Watch: http://youtu.be/eV-9l9AzA6c

0

Video Hart Marine and the ORC Pantocarene Pilot Boat

published on 14 August 2020

With a long tradition in building high performance vessels using composite material Hart Marine now produces some of the finest pilot boats available. European Design. Australian built. hartmarine.com.au

1

Article NTSB Report: Contact of Tanker Riverside with Moda Ingleside Energy Center No. 4 Loading Dock

published on 30 March 2022

On March 15, 2021, about 1302 local time, the oil tanker Riverside with a crew of 21 and 2 pilots was transiting outbound from the port of Corpus Christi, near Ingleside, Texas, in a loaded condition when the vessel lost propulsion and struck the no. 4 loading dock at the Moda Ingleside Energy Center. 1 No pollution or injuries were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $550,000. The estimated property damage to the facility was $7 million.

0

Press Release New Pilot Boat for Port of Townsville

by Port of Townsville - published on 15 March 2021

The Port of Townsville has welcomed the newest addition to its fleet of pilot boats with the arrival of the newly built MANTARAY. The $3.3 million, custom-built vessel utilises high-tech equipment and design to maximise safety and efficiency for pilot transfers.

0