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Pilots working in Texas’s busy Port Freeport asked for a new vessel focused on safety, comfort and convenience, and the Brazos Pilot — powered by two Cat^® C18 marine propulsion engines each rated at 803 hp — delivers on all counts.

Christened in January 2019, the 64-foot-long aluminum pilot boat replaced the Brazos Pilots Association’s previous single-engine vessel. The new Brazos Pilot isn’t simply larger and more powerful, capable of a top speed of more than 28 knots, but it also features a number of pilot-requested upgrades, including:

• Deep vee hull for stability in heavy seas
• Large overhead skylights and centerline helm position for excellent visibility
• Large pilot transfer platform with non-skid stairway and specially configured safety rails
• Secondary control station on the aft deck to facilitate operation in close quarters
• Integrated suite of navigation electronics
• Climate-controlled wheelhouse with shock-mitigating seating
• Modern crew quarters for comfort on extended voyages

Brazos Pilot was designed by Metal Shark and built at the company’s shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. The vessel was named one of WorkBoat’s “10 Significant Boats of 2019.”

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