Saaremaa-based Estonian boat manufacturer Baltic Workboats has delivered its first boat made for the U.S. market, a Pilot 1500 WP wave-piercing boat, to the Port Everglades pilot center, which serves some of the world's biggest freighters and cruise ships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

"The U.S. market is a relatively tight-knit market, the gaining of entry into which has not been easy," Baltic Workboats CEO Margus Vanaselja said in a press release, adding that the company attached all the more value to this breakthrough as a result. "We have gained new experience and see very great potential here. This is confirmed by the big interest in other boats of our model range."

According to Vanaselja, the company will be taking part in the International Workboat Show in the U.S. this week to showcase its product offerings.

Also demonstrative of positive feedback and interest on the American market is an invitation the Estonian company received to give a presentation at a conference of the American Pilots' Association, where the company can showcase its entire range of pilot boats, said Joel Rang, head of sales and marketing at Baltic Workboats.

The company has invested more than €1 million over the years in developing the Pilot 1500 WP, currently one of the most state-of-the-art workboats. The boat comes with a remote administration system that enables one to follow developments on the boat from shore.

Baltic Workboats is an Estonian capital-based company which produces steel and aluminum workboats. The company's product portfolio includes pilot and patrol boats, ferries, tug boats, catamarans as well as other kinds of workboats.

The company, whose revenue increased 11.5 percent to €27 million in 2016, employs approximately 200 people.