Brightlingsea Harbour has taken delivery of a new multifunction pilot and workboat – the Colne Leader.

Bulit by the Seaward Boat Development Company in Cowes, the 29ft vessel will be used for piloting ships entering and leaving the port, river patrols, maintaining buoyage, river surveys and other general harbour duties.

Given the need for a multi-purpose vessel, advice was sought from the Work Boat Association, coding surveyors, naval architects, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, other ports, the pilots, shipping organisations and professional work boat skippers.

The result is said to be a flexible vessel incorporating a number of facilities and services not generally offered in a pilot boat of this size.

“Working with Seaward has been an informative and rewarding process.” Notes Harbour Master James Thomas, “The Seaward team has gone the extra mile to create a vessel to meet our multifaceted needs within our relatively small budget and we are delighted with the finished result,” said Harbour Master James Thomas.

“From major achievements in such a small vessel, like standing headroom with full access in the engine room, to the little details like mooring cleats inset into the cabin coaming to keep the decks clear and the latest man overboard recovery equipment, they have worked with us to achieve a boat that will meet our needs for many years to come.”