Vertical Markets

West African upgrade

by Mark Rowe

Pilgrims Group Limited reports that it’s upgraded a former US Coast Guard cutter to provide safe passage for clients working in West African waters.

The vessel, MV The Judge, pictured, was acquired by Pilgrims in the USA three years ago and has recently been refitted to install navigation and anti-piracy equipment, expanding its personnel capacity to 12 crew.

Corporate clients, including oil companies, geological surveyors and cable laying experts, have already had the protection of an armed escort provided by MV The Judge, whose captain, Shane Slabbert, has military experience with the South African Navy. The vessel, which has worked as far afield as Egypt, Somalia and Mombasa, is now based in Lagos, Nigeria, working alongside the Nigerian armed forces, and its area of operations now extends along the West African coast.

Daniel Revmatas, General Manager of Pilgrims Africa, says: “The potential for attack by pirates is a regrettable feature of modern maritime activity and poses a significant threat to our clients, many of whom are involved in projects of international economic significance. The Judge gives Pilgrims the ability to provide organisations with a complete solution to security provision, both on land and at sea. Our sea-borne service, demonstrated by the upgraded abilities of The Judge, provides welcome reassurance in this uncertain environment.”

Pilgrims says that it co-ordinates MV The Judge’s operations with the Nigerian authorities to escort commercial operations around West African waters. These operations include oil exploration, seismic surveys, resupply missions, crew changes and emergency evacuation.

Drum Cussac, Nigeria works alongside Pilgrims supporting clients in the country. Tim Hepworth, Regional Director for Drum Cussac, Nigeria, says: “The decision to bring MV The Judge vessel to Lagos and have a dedicated offshore maritime role is a fantastic addition to the Pilgrims service in Nigeria. The vessel is fit for task and ideally suited to escort operations or short to mid-term survey and drilling operations in support of the oil and gas industries.”

MV The Judge – technical specifications

Length: 24.85m

Breadth: 5.3m

Draft: 1.8m

Gross Tonnage: 80

Net Tonnage: 24

Hull and Superstructure

Hull – Welded Steel A36

Superstructure – Riveted Aluminum

Machinery

Two Caterpillar 3412 DITA

800BHP 2100RPM

Auxiliaries

Two Lovell 1004 GM 48KVa Heat Exchanged

45HP @ 1500rpm

Power Supply

Two Leroy Somer 380V Alternator

35KW 120/240/440 VAC 3 PHASE 60HZ.

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