Nekton boats back in water?

[diverdoug1]

Was looking at the webcams on gcship.com, and it looks like the Pilot is in the water again with the Rorqual. I wonder if the have been sold. I wonder if they are in seaworthy condition.

 

[DiveMaven]

Interesting, hopefully someone has heard something, though I'd be amazed if they were ever put back into service as dive liveaboards.

 

[scubamarketing]

I haven't been on too many liveaboards, but I loved my time on the Pilot.

 

[diversteve]

Live webcam image above shows work that is currently underway on a new tug boat (in the foreground) and a refit of a SWATH vessel (behind the tug).

If somebody bought one - I'm thinking for use as a oil-rig crew boat, their original purpose - I'd think the Pilot would be the better choice as it was about 5 years newer IIRC.

 

[scubamarketing]

Their original purpose was as dive boats, but was based off an oil rig design. The Pilot is the older of the two.

 

[diverdoug1]

Yeah the Rorqual went into service during the 2002 season, The Pilot was about 8 or 9 years older.

 

[scubamarketing]

The main ship I can see on the webcam looks like the Pilot. IIRC, the Rorqual had a solid wall support to the pontoon because the gap in the support on the Pilot created an eddy that seriously hurt its top speed.

 

[diverdoug1]

They are both there if you look closely, and I think I fugured out why they are in the water. The marine service rails have been pulled out of the ground of the shipyard. They were probably sold the the other shipyard that is being built in Port St. Joe.

 

[diversteve]

Ihe Rorqual is behind the Pilot here: Webcams

 

[robint]

Wow... we did trips on both the Pilot and Roqual, and LOVED them. We were just talking about them this past weekend, wishing there was another boat like them doing liveaboard trips.