Force of Nature

Geraldton-based David Perham is the latest operator from the Western Rock Lobster fishery to order a new crayboat from Dongara Marine. The boat has live tank capacity for 84 baskets of crays, 7500 litres fuel capacity and 500 litres of fresh water.

Like other recent Dongara Marine fishing and pilot boat newbuilds, the 22.4 metre Southerly Designs monohull combines an aluminium hull and composite superstructure.

Twin Scania DI16 076M engines rated for 662kW (900hp) at 2300rpm each drive a fixed pitch propeller via a ZF gearbox. On trials this combination gave the fishing boat a maximum speed of 24.5 knots and 18.5 knots cruise speed, each about 1.5 knots above expectations. This performance was achieved with the boat’s fuel tanks full.

Careful planning means the cruise speed is achieved when the engines achieve the best fuel efficiency, which is a factor in making the latest crayboat highly economical to operate.

Fuel consumption is about 20 per cent less than on other recent vessels with the same hullform. That benefit derives from the engines and a range of other enhancements that improve the owner’s bottom line.

As the prime contractor, Dongara Marine had overall project responsibility for the vessel including all fitout of the hull, which arrived in Port Denison in November 2019 after being fabricated in Geraldton. This includes all the main machinery as well as the many mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems that go in to a modern cray boat.

Dongara Marine also manufactured the resin-infused composite wheelhouse structure, which is one of our specialties and now highly sought after for the low noise and vibration levels, light weight, and high quality finish they provide.

Once the wheelhouse and hull fitout stages were complete the superstructure was lifted onto the hull prior to final fitout and then the new boat’s launch, which was completed on April 22, 2020.

Read more about this project in our News section here.