MV Decca Pilot

ex THPV (19) Patrol

Roy Thornton Collection

Steel single screw motor vessel, built in 1961 by Brooke Marine, Lowestoft (Yard No. 283), for Trinity House Corp as a Pilot Tender

Technical Data

• Length: 125.0 ft (between perpendiculars), 139.0 ft (overall)
• Breadth of hull: 24.1 ft (extreme), 24.0 ft (moulded)
• Depth: 13.0 ft
• Draught: 11.6 ft (aft, loaded), 6.6 ft (forward, loaded)
• Tonnage: 334.53 gross/79.95 net/430.00 deadweight
• Load Displacement: 430 tons
• Engines: 2 x 4SA 6-cylinder Lister Blackstone diesels
• Fuel: Gas Oil
• Power: 990 bhp/750 rpm
• Speed: 13.314 knots (full trial), 12.75 knots (working)
• Radar: Decca 303
• Capacity of Tanks or Bunkers: 52 tons
• Consumption per 24 hrs: 4.5 tons (Full Speed)/1.37 tons (Station Working Speed)
• Fresh Water Capacity: 22 tons
• Ballast Tanks: 15 tons
• Cable: 1”
• Anchors: 4 (Number),9,9.7¼, 3 cwt (Size)
• Voltage: 220
• Capacity: 6 officers, 12 crew
• Sleeping accommodation: 12
• Call Sign: MENR
• IMO Number: 5271862
• Official Number: 302837
• Registry: London/UK 🇬🇧, Panama 🇵🇦
• Sister-ship: Proceder (284)

History

June 15th 1961: Launched and commissioned to Trinity House Corporation. Normal base being Dover – Dungeness.

Andy C Adams Collection (Left) © A G Jones (Right)

© Ted Ingham

She relieved Harwich-Sunk tender PRECEDER (20) on a regular basis and occasionally served at the Nab Station in the Isle of Wight District.

🆕© Fotoflite

1967: Taken out of service when the shore station opened at Folkestone. Laid up at Harwich, later alternated in service with PRECEDER (20) as the Harwich-Sunk tender on a care and maintenance basis. Proposal to fit her for cruising service was not implemented due to the limited pilots accommodation.

1971: Proposed sale to Gironde Pilots did not materialise.

1972: Sold to Decca Nav. Co. Ltd converted to a Hydrographic Ship and renamed DECCA PILOT. Employed in the Arabian Gulf, later at Gt Yarmouth.

Andy C Adams Collection

1981: Sold to C A Culner, Malta.

1981: Broken Up.

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Fotoflite, A G Jones, Ted Ingham, Neil Jones (Trinity House Archives) and Andy C Adams for their assistance in producing this feature.

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)