Svitzer Marlin – 17.2 metre pilot boat by Dongara Marine

Handed over to leading global towage operator Svitzer in August 2023, Svitzer Marlin is the first example of Dongara Marine’s 17.2 metre Berkeley Class pilot boat, a smaller variant of the already successful 19.2 metre Berkeley Class vessels.
In addition to being the first 17.2 metre Berkeley Class contracted, the all-aluminium vessel is differentiated by using the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS).
With a total installed power of just over 900kW (1200hp), the Svitzer pilot boat to an average fully loaded maximum speed of just under 36 knots on trials.
At 80 per cent power the vessel cruised at 28 knots and used less than 6.5 litres of fuel per nautical mile. Beyond the obvious cost savings, this excellent fuel economy also results in lower emissions.
Fitting Svitzer Marlin with the steerable IPS drives also provides for great manoeuvring capability, including true sideways movement and the ability to essentially rotate within its own length. Acceleration performance was also demonstrated to be excellent on trials, with the boat going from idle to cruising speed in just 15 seconds.
Although smaller in dimensions than the previous Berkeley Class vessels Berkeley, AMG Winyama, and Genesis, Svitzer Marlin still provides capacity to carry six pilots in addition to launch master and deckhand.
It also retains well-proven features such as the specially engineered polyethylene foam and HDPE tube fender system that provides increased deck space and a Goodchild man overboard recovery system.
The Southerly Designs hullform also preserves the Berkeley Class’s trademark fine forward sections and highly flared bow for superior seakeeping, reduced deck wetness, and generous forward pilot embarkation / disembarkation area.