Falmouth Harbour Shows Off £1.6m Pilot Boat at Seawork 2026

Most people never give a second thought to the small boats that guide huge ships safely into port. But one of them is about to leave Falmouth and put itself in front of nearly 8,000 maritime professionals.

Falmouth Harbour’s £1.6 million flagship pilot boat Atlantic will steam towards Southampton on Monday 8th June, where it will go on display at Seawork, billed as Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine exhibition. The event runs from the 9th to the 11th of June.

📷Atlantic - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

What Atlantic is doing at Seawork

The trip is part of a collaboration with commercial vessel builder Holyhead Marine, and the aim is to show off the role pilot boats play in supporting the UK’s maritime economy, alongside the harbour’s work on safety and sustainability.

Atlantic will join more than 70 commercial vessels on show at the event, which draws around 7,800 maritime professionals from over 60 countries. For Falmouth, it is a chance to put one of the UK’s premier deep-water ports in the spotlight, and for Holyhead Marine it is a showcase of what the builder can offer.

Visitors will be able to tour Atlantic and meet members of the Falmouth Harbour team to talk through pilotage operations, commercial shipping, maritime sustainability, port infrastructure and where the UK’s marine sector is heading next.

📷Atlantic - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

A working boat, not a show pony

Delivered in 2024, Atlantic is a serious piece of kit. Falmouth Harbour’s pilot vessels and their crews work in all conditions, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and complete more than 1,000 boardings and landings every year.

Working alongside its sister ship Arrow, Atlantic transfers marine pilots to and from ships entering and leaving Falmouth. That keeps cargo, fuel, cruise passengers, defence traffic and other critical supplies moving safely.

The scale of what is at stake is easy to underestimate. As an island nation, around 95% of UK trade by volume moves by sea, and behind every safe port call sits a network of skilled maritime workers, with pilotage central to keeping vessels, crews, ports and the marine environment safe.

📷Atlantic and Arrow from bow - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

The green credentials

Like the entire Falmouth Harbour workboat fleet, Atlantic runs on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which reduces lifecycle carbon emissions compared with conventional marine diesel.

The Camarc-designed vessel pairs that with an advanced hull design and modern propulsion systems that improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions further. Its construction also uses modern materials and engineering techniques meant to extend the boat’s working life and keep maintenance down.

Falmouth Harbour CEO Miles Carden said the boat proves ports do not have to choose between quality and sustainability.

“Atlantic demonstrates that ports can invest in world-class maritime infrastructure whilst also embracing sustainability – and her appearance at Seawork will provide a unique chance to see the latest offering from one of the UK’s premier commercial vessel builders,” Miles said.

“Pilot boats are often unseen by the public, but they are an essential part of the UK’s supply chain, supporting everything from international trade and energy security to cruise tourism and defence operations.

“Falmouth has some of the deepest natural waters in Western Europe, exceptional shelter and a highly experienced pilotage service. Atlantic helps us maintain those standards whilst reducing our environmental footprint and showcasing the innovation that exists within the UK maritime sector.”

📷Atlantic and Arrow off St Anthony Lighthouse - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

Built in Wales, made for Cornwall

Atlantic was built in North Wales and designed specifically for the demands of pilotage work in Cornwall. For Holyhead Marine, sending it to Southampton is a point of pride.

“We are incredibly proud to see Atlantic representing both Falmouth Harbour and UK boatbuilding at Seawork,” said Holyhead Marine Project Manager Dan Firth.

“Built in North Wales and designed specifically for the demands of pilotage operations in Cornwall, Atlantic combines modern hull design, operational efficiency and exceptional crew welfare.

“The vessel reflects our commitment to high quality vessel build and the broader strength of British maritime engineering – and will play a vital role in supporting safe shipping movements, trade and economic activity for many years to come.”

Falmouth Harbour runs pilotage services across one of the largest natural harbours in the world, handling commercial shipping, cruise vessels, tankers, offshore support vessels, defence traffic and marine renewables work. You can read more about its commercial, leisure and environmental work over on the Falmouth Harbour website.

📷Atlantic and Arrow off St Anthony Lighthouse - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

📷Atlantic and St Anthony Lighthouse - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour

📷Pilot Boat Atlantic and Crusie Ship AidaLuna - Photo Credit: Miles Carden/Falmouth Harbour