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Portland Port names new tugboat, pilot vessel
Portland Port has named a new azimuth stern drive tugboat and a fast pilot transfer vessel at its harbour in south England, UK
Expanding cruise ship berths, demand from auxiliary naval vessels, and the need to reduce emissions led Portland Port to order these new assets, which were delivered this year.
Portland Harbour Authority named azimuth stern drive (ASD) tug Wyke Castle and the Silverwell pilot boat on a main dock jetty and deepwater berth which opened in 2023.
Portland Port chairman Christopher Langham and chief executive Bill Reeves were joined for the naming ceremony by the UK Royal Navy regional commander for Wales, the west of England and Channel Islands, Tristram Kirkwood and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) commodore Sam Shattock.
“We now have the full toolkit and can grow the business even further,” said Mr Langham.
Damen Shipyards built 21-m Wyke Castle to its ASD 2111 design with a 10-m beam and two Caterpillar main engines connected to selective catalytic reduction units to minimise NOx emissions. This tug has a top speed of around 12 knots and 50 tonnes of bollard pull, plus a winch below the wheelhouse with access for towage over the bow or stern, plus a small deck crane for equipment handling and a Furuno radar and navigation suite.
Wyke Castle joins Rupert Best and Maiden Castle in the port’s fleet to tow, manoeuvre and support vessels such as cruise, merchant and Ministry of Defence ships.
International Tug & Salvage toured Wyke Castle in June 2025 during the Seawork exhibition in Southampton, England, and spoke with the crew, master and deputy harbour master.
Silverwell is an ORC 121 design fast pilot boat built by Great Yarmouth-based Goodchild Marine Services for transferring pilots to cruise liners, RFA ships and large merchant vessels to enable them to navigate into Portland Harbour and alongside at the port.
“These new, state-of-the-art vessels represent further significant, multi-million-pound investment in the business,” said Mr Reeves. “They will enhance our capabilities and enable the growth of our business as well as that of our customers and tenants at the port while supporting the local economy.”
Silverwell has a beak-bow hull design with minimal drag for speeds of up to 27 knots and Goodchild’s man-overboard platform to quickly rescue anyone in the water.
Portland Port provides cargo handling, vessel berthing and logistics support, and has space for businesses and tenants, including dry and liquid bulk cargo businesses.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, the port has operated on a commercial basis since 1996. It has been a regular port for RFA ships and has seen its cruise business grow in recent years, with 64 ships due to have visited by the end of 2025.
The 28th International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, in association with Caterpillar, 19-21 May 2026. Use this link for more details of this industry event and the associated social and networking opportunities.
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