See the exciting announcement at the end of this post.
Sunday I got word thanks to Shipshooter–Jonathan Atkin–that the pilot boat-to-be would be moving from Caddell’s back to the Sandy Hook Pilots (SHP) base on Monday morning right around sunrise. Pilot boat-to-be? There’s still much work to do before she enters service. And at 0626, I saw the shift begin, as Dorothy J pulled her away from the floating drydock that has been her home the past few months. I visited her here back in December 2019 after she’d appeared at the SHP base about a year ago. The current SHP No. 1 New York is at sea at the sea buoy end of the Ambrose Channel.
Once clear of the dry docks, the several-mile tow got underway.
Dorothy J kept the bow pointed while Robert IV had the stern.
Just east of the salt pile, the tow was reconfigured so that Robert IV got the Pilot No. 1 on the nose.
Robert IV continued the push toward the Narrows, after Dorothy J had gone ahead.
Just off the pilot station, Dorothy J came back alongside . . .
and Pilot No. 1 slides in opposite side of the dock from Pilot No. 2 New Jersey.
All photos, WVD, who will update the continuing transformation as available.
Here‘s a NY Media Boat report on a day at sea on the current Pilot Boat No. 1.
The big announcement, click on the image below. A week from today you can join me for a different type of virtual canal tour.
tugster: a waterblog 
4 comments
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May 19, 2020 at 3:20 pm
lucienve
Ah – that tour looks great! I only wish it was offered on a weekend or after work hours at some point.
May 19, 2020 at 3:38 pm
tugster
Thx, lucienve, but you are in luck. Tours are archived and can be watched whenever you like. I’m glad you asked the question, since other folks may have been wondering about that also.
May 19, 2020 at 11:14 pm
George Robert Schneider
Since I’ve worked those MSRC boats almost since they were new, it’s funny to see one with the “tuna tower” removed. I really expected they’d have added to the superstructure. As they were they were certified for 38 people, but that was in bunkrooms of up to 6 people and mostly public showers and heads. I would think, with all that room, pilots should have something better.
May 20, 2020 at 4:49 am
tugster
Thx, George. The boat may be as much as a year away from service. My understanding is that superstructure will be added abaft of the wheelhouse to create more living/sleeping space. To be followed.