Pilot Cutters

Pilot Cutters are used to take Pilots between the three Pilot Stations (at Gravesend, Harwich and Ramsgate) and ships entering or leaving the Port.

A dedicated Pilot Cutter called 'Patrol' is used at Gravesend, but the six cutters used at Ramsgate are operated by a separate company called Estuary Services Limited (ESL). This company is jointly owned by the PLA and Medway Ports Ltd.

PLA Pilots based at Harwich use cutters operated by Harwich Haven Authority by arrangement.

PLA Pilot Cutters

'Patrol'
	This vessel was purchased by the PLA, from Estuary Services Limited, in 1994. Patrol was built in 1982, by Halmatic, on a RNLI Arun-type hull and was given a major refit in 1998. With an overall length of 16.4m and a draught of 2m, she is powered by twin Scania DSI 16 engines giving over 1100 bhp and a maximum speed of 20 knots. Like the Benfleet she is equipped with a hydraulic recovery platfom on the stern, for rescue purposes.
'Benfleet'
	The 'Benfleet' is a dual-purpose William Osborne design based on a Talisman 49 hull. She was built in 1997 and has a length of 15m, a draught of 1.3m and displaces 22 tonnes. Powered by twin Volvo TAMD 122P engines giving 530 bhp, she has a maximum speed of 24 knots. 'Benfleet' can also be used as a Pilot Cutter having been certified by MCA for use in both roles. She is equipped with a stern recovery platform for rescue purposes.
'Lambeth'
	'Lambeth' is the first of a fleet of four purpose-built harbour patrol vessels which will be used in the middle and lower districts of the tidal Thames, between Putney Bridge and the North Sea. The launches are being built by Alnmaritec, based in Alnwick, Northumberland, and the hull type is aluminium catamaran with deep vee hull form, designed by Newcastle University The hull structure was designed by Amgram Limited. The vessels are 13.5 metres long and 4.8 metres wide with a weight of 11 tonnes. Two John Deere 200 horsepower marine diesel engines provide a maximum speed of 21 knots (24 mph) and a patrol speed of 18 knots (20.5 mph). Click here to find out more about the £2 million project to equip the PLA with the most modern and efficient vessels for the job.
'Kew'
	Catamarans 'Kew' and 'Southwark' are the latest of four new boats the PLA has ordered at a cost of more than £2 million. They have been delivered as preparations continue for an unprecedented year on the Thames with the river pageant to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and events linked to the London Olympics. 'Kew' and 'Southwark', join the first of the boats, 'Lambeth', which has been in service for the last two years. The last of the new boats, 'Barnes', will enter service in the autumn of 2011. All four boats are named after London bridges. They have been specially designed to work on the tidal Thames with reduced weight and lower fuel consumption than the boats they are replacing. The launches have twin hulls made of aluminium and each weighing 11 tonnes. They were built by Northumberland’s Alnmaritec following a five year PLA-led design and research project with Newcastle University to create a new design boat for the Thames. The 13.5metre launches are each powered by two 200bhp John Deere marine diesel engines and can achieve top speeds of around 20 knots.
'Southwark'
	Catamarans 'Kew' and 'Southwark' are the latest of four new boats the PLA has ordered at a cost of more than £2 million. They have been delivered as preparations continue for an unprecedented year on the Thames with the river pageant to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and events linked to the London Olympics. 'Kew' and 'Southwark', join the first of the boats, 'Lambeth', which has been in service for the last two years. The last of the new boats, 'Barnes', will enter service in the autumn of 2011. All four boats are named after London bridges. They have been specially designed to work on the tidal Thames with reduced weight and lower fuel consumption than the boats they are replacing. The launches have twin hulls made of aluminium and each weighing 11 tonnes. They were built by Northumberland’s Alnmaritec following a five year PLA-led design and research project with Newcastle University to create a new design boat for the Thames. The 13.5metre launches are each powered by two 200bhp John Deere marine diesel engines and can achieve top speeds of around 20 knots.