Hart Marine pilot boats power up with Volvo Penta IPS

Volvo Penta IPS - Proven performance for demanding conditions

Hart Marine, a leading shipyard in Victoria, Australia, produces what has been called the “Pilot Boat of Choice” in many regions of the world. Over the last four decades, the company has perfected the manufacturing of high-performance pilot and patrol vessels, including the Orc pilot, police and rescue boats. Volvo Penta IPS has featured on many of these boats, ensuring peak performance for operations crucial to safety and security.  

Building on this success, Hart Marine installed Volvo Penta IPS systems on four new ORC 173 pilot boats that were recently constructed in Australia. Each vessel has been outfitted with a Volvo Penta IPS900 system and twin Volvo Penta D13 engines. The all-weather, self-righting crafts will be used to transfer pilots to incoming ships and aid navigation in Australian as international ports. 

“These vessels must handle critical operations in some of Australia's most challenging maritime environments. The southern waters are known to be rough, with southern water currents, strong winds, extreme weather fluctuations and challenging depth curves,” said Graeme Taylor, General Manager of Hart Marine. “The powerful combination of Volvo Penta IPS and Volvo Penta D13 engines ensures these new vessels will balance high-speed performance and operational efficiency in these conditions.” 

Optimized for speed and precision

Speed and maneuverability are vital to pilot boats. The ability to reach high speeds quickly is essential for minimizing transit times and responding to emergencies. Precise maneuverability can make or break a mission.  

The 17.55-m Orc 173 vessels are equipped with Volvo Penta Interceptor System to reduce wave resistance. Volvo Penta D13-IPS900 engines provide 485 Kw each — a total of 970 Kw per vessel — enabling them to reach 35 knots with a cruising speed of 28 knots. The 6-cylinder diesel engines are 4-stroke direct-injected, turbocharged and aftercooled, and each generates a 12.8-liter displacement.  

In addition to their high-speed capabilities, the integrated system of Volvo Penta IPS and Volvo Penta engines enables streamlined power management and navigational capabilities. Joystick Docking enables the crew to command intuitive movements at low speeds, which simplifies close-quarter navigation and docking. The system manages efficient cruise speeds of around 20 knots to conserve fuel during non-urgent operations. 

Advanced marine technology for seamless operations

“The Volvo Penta Dynamic Positioning System is like using a handbrake in a car – with one press of a button, the vessel will just sit there in any wind or tide — it's incredible. Volvo Penta IPS offers a toggle switch which makes docking unbelievably easy. It’s like you’ve trained the boat to follow your hand. It’s even better than we anticipated,” said Rob Welsh, launch coordinator at Flinders Ports. 

Hart Marine outfitted the Orc 173 vessels with Glass Cockpit, which integrates all navigation, engine data and monitoring into one large, high-resolution screen, providing a clear and comprehensive view of the vessel's surroundings and systems. This fully digital control system provides operators with a clear overview of vital information on high-resolution displays, improving situational awareness and operational efficiency. This allows the crew to monitor vital parameters like engine performance, fuel levels and navigational charts. It enables them to make informed decisions quickly and without having to switch their attention across multiple screens.  

The integration of Volvo Penta IPS, Glass Cockpit and Volvo Penta engines gives Hart Marine a single point of contact for service and maintenance. Instead of dealing with multiple suppliers and partners for different components, the team can rely on Volvo Penta and its dealers for comprehensive support of the marine commercial propulsion system. 

“It’s been a great success for Hart Marine and Flinders Port. This really is a steppingstone into the future of the pilot boat industry,” said Malcolm Hart, Managing Director of Hart Marine.