Research Vessel (RV) Djildjit built by local Mid West business Dongara Marine
In January 2024 Dongara Marine was delighted to be able to finally publicly reveal another project our team had been working on after being awarded a Western Australian Government contract back in 2022.
Details of the nearly complete project were officially announced by the Western Australian Minister for Fisheries and Minister for Regional Development, the Hon. Don Punch MLA, on 30 January 2024. The Minister released the following statement.
Regional Development Minister Don Punch has launched a new modern fisheries research vessel for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Geraldton today to build on the Western Australia's science and research capabilities.
The Cook Government has invested $3.2 million to replace the department's ageing RV George Cassels, which is no longer operational.
Designed and built by Mid West boat builder Dongara Marine, the research vessel was named Djildjit Kaartadjiny in consultation with Noongar elders Djildjit Kaartadjiny, meaning knowledge and understanding of aquamarine fish or fisheries research.
The RV Djildjit will be based at Hillarys and used for a wide range of fisheries research and science activities across the State.
The 18.6m vessel provides a larger multi-purpose research platform to perform a broad range of research, stock assessment and science monitoring tasks.
It can manage a variety of specialised research equipment including fish traps and crustacean pots, baited remote underwater video (BRUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and towed underwater survey cameras.
The vessel will be used to survey and monitor the health of WA's valuable fisheries including western rock lobster, crabs and demersal fish to support sustainability and accreditation through the Marine Stewardship Council.
The versatility of the design also allows it to be used to support the Shark Monitoring Network and State-wide Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) program, as well as projects undertaken by research partners.
In September last year Dongara Marine was also awarded the tender to design and build a new patrol vessel to replace the ageing PV Walcott. The project is expected to be completed by September 2025.
Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"Maintaining a fit-for-purpose fleet of research vessels is essential to protecting the sustainability of the State's fisheries.
"The RV Djildjit's first voyage will be off the Mid West coast in March, where researchers will be using BRUVs and remotely operated vehicles to support the West Coast Demersal fishery recovery.
"The construction of the research vessel in Geraldton is a great example of Western Australia's regional manufacturing capability, which helps to generates jobs and grow our regional economies."
Comments attributed to Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
"I am very pleased to attend today's launch of this new modern fisheries research vessel RV Djildjit, built locally in Geraldton by Dongara Marine.
"Investing in projects which support regional manufacturing helps to generate local employment, in this case in the boat building and maintenance industry in the Mid West."
NOTE: phonetic pronunciation of the vessel name
Djildjit – Fish
Phonetics Djil-Djit = Jil-Jit
Djildjit Kaartadjiny - Fish Knowledge or fisheries research
Phonetics Djil-Djit = Jil-jit (Fish)
Kaart-a-djiny = Kart-a-jin (Knowledge)