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SWATH in Belgian Waters

Planning for the future

A new way to board pilots

• Practical solutions for future challenges

– How to cater for larger and faster vessels

– Non Swath operable ships

– How to prepare ships for boarding operations

– How to guarantee a safe passage with draught

> 13,1 m

How to cater for larger and faster vessels

• By extending the area in which pilot operationswill take place

• By operating at higher speed:

– Present boarding operations:

Maximum speed of 5 knots

– Future boarding operations (Swath operablevesels)

Minimum speed of 10 knots

How to prepare ships for boarding operations

Larger boarding area

Non Swath operable ships

• Ships with a freeboard of less than 2,5 m

• Ships with large fenders at water level

• Submarines

• Ships with unsuitable ‘pilot doors’

In all not more than 25 % of the total number of

commercial ships

How to prepare ships for boarding operations

• Creating a new area:

To align ships towards pilot operations;

• Swath operable ships:– Fixed distances between vessels aligned towards Swath

vessel adapt speed and course to optimum boardingoperation

– Allow vessels for which berth is not ready to joinanchorage area in the North

• Swath non operable ships:– Direct vessels toward SWATH mother ship

– Allow vessels for which berth is not ready to joinanchorage area in the South

Large Alignment zone Station Vessel

Tender Swath operations

Anchorage to the North

Anchorage to the South

Goals to be achieved

• Enhance safety of pilot boarding operations

• Enhance speed of operations under normalconditions

• Cater for ULCC (loa >300m, draught tideindependent > 13,1 m) with a dead slow speedof 9 knots

• Maintain same level of service for all othervessels

• Reduce time out due to bad weather from

40 days per year to 4 days per year