Goodchild Marine celebrates fourth consecutive contract with leading pilotage company

Goodchild Marine has signed a deal to add another ORC pilot vessel to a fleet operating in the Thames Estuary.

Éclat, an ORC 136, will be the fourth pilot boat ordered by Estuary Services Limited from the Great Yarmouth based business after an initial collaboration in 2012 helped to propel the flagship ORC range into the UK.

The order set the benchmark for future vessels, with other companies lining up for Goodchild Marine’s pilot boats.

 

Estuary Elite, Elan, Esprit and Éclat are all named after Lotus cars, which are coincidentally also built in Norfolk.

The ORC vessels are renowned for fuel efficiency and the capacity to cut emissions.

Another feature is the ability to handle high speeds in bad weather owing to an innovative beak-bow design, which can steady the hull of the boat as it pitches into the sea, giving it unmatched all-weather capability.

Steve Pierce, General Manager for Goodchild Marine said: “The longevity of our working relationship is such that we are in a position to announce our fourth contract with Estuary Services Limited.

“We are very fortunate that Ian Lord, the general manager of ESL understood the design, had a willingness to embrace our vision, and took the opportunity to help us introduce our ORC vessels into the UK.

“The commitment from ESL and our designer Didier Marchand from Pantocarene has developed into an enduring partnership.”

The latest contract coincides with Ian’s move to a new position within ESL, as the company’s Project Engineer.

He said: “It made complete sense to invest in a fourth ORC pilot boat. We are so impressed with the efficiency and performance of the other boats in our fleet that adding another seemed a natural progression. The build quality achieved by Goodchild is crucial in ensuring ESL maintains a reliable service to its joint owners, Port of London, and Peel Ports.”

“I am delighted that ESL has played a large part in bringing the Goodchild ORC range into the UK, and I’m once again looking forward to working with the Goodchild team for this next new build.”

PICTURE CAPTION: Alan Goodchild, Managing Director of Goodchild Marine, with Ian Lord, General Manager of Estuary Services Limited.

MEDIA CONTACT: Produced and distributed on behalf of Goodchild Marine by TMS Media. More information, Steve Pierce, 01493 782301, steve.pierce@goodchild-marine.co.uk or Louisa Lay, 01493 662929, louisa@tms-media.co.uk