Bermuda has taken possession of a new pilot boat St George after it completed a near 750-mile passage from Newport.

On Thursday, the Department of Marine and Ports Services received the vessel, which was built over a 20-month period by the renowned East Coast shipbuilders Gladding-Hearn in Massachusetts.

The 52ft-long pilot boat has a draft of five feet, is powered by twin Caterpillar 750 horse power motors, and has a delivery speed of 21.5 knots (25mph).

The boat is similar to the 61ft pilot/rescue boat St David, designed with good sea-keeping capabilities in rough water.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, thanked Rudy Cann, the director of Marine and Ports, along with the department's technical teams and support staff who worked with Gladding-Hearn on the build.

Mr Furbert added: “Over the ensuing days, St George will be inspected and signed off by the Marine and Ports technical team, reflagged and registered at Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority. We anticipate St George going into service shortly after.”

The new boat will replace the 42-year-old pilot boat St George, now renamed Little George, built by Gladding-Hearn in 1980.

St George complements the two-boat fleet for the Bermuda Branch Pilot Service and provides pilotage to all commercial vessels arriving and departing Bermuda. St George will be a back-up offshore search-and-rescue vessel to St David stationed in the east.