PV Equinox

Dongara Marine completed PV Equinox, a sophisticated fisheries patrol vessel, for the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Built at our Geraldton shipyard, the new patrol boat entered service in August 2026. It replaces the long-serving PV Walcott and provides DPIRD with a modern offshore patrol vessel designed for extended operations throughout Western Australia’s remote northern waters.

PV Equinox primarily supports commercial and recreational fisheries compliance and marine park management. Its wider roles include marine safety operations, sea search and rescue, shark incident response, whale disentanglement, and the interception of illegal foreign fishing activity.

Designed by Southerly Designs in collaboration with Dongara Marine, the 24.95-metre monohull was developed from the proven platform used for the Tasmania Police patrol vessel Cape Wickham. The design was extensively customised around DPIRD’s operating requirements, including its internal arrangement, endurance, machinery installation, motion-control systems, working deck, and tender operations.

An extensive period of detailed design development and client review preceded construction. Further refinements were incorporated as the project progressed, allowing the vessel’s spaces and systems to be tailored closely to how DPIRD personnel will use the patrol boat during long deployments in demanding offshore conditions.

PV Equinox was designed and built to provide a range of 1,000 nautical miles at its 20-knot service speed and to support voyages of up to 14 days. Its 20,700-litre fuel capacity, extensive dry and refrigerated storage, onboard fresh water production, workshop, laundry, and accommodation for 10 people support sustained operations away from the vessel’s Broome base.

Propulsion is provided by two MAN diesel engines, each rated at 1,066kW, driving Veem fixed-pitch propellers through remotely mounted ZF gearboxes. During trials, PV Equinox achieved a maximum speed of 23.4 knots in a fully loaded operational condition.

The accommodation comprises four twin-berth cabins and two single-berth cabins. Under AMSA NSCV Class 2B survey, PV Equinox is certified to carry four crew and six special personnel, with accommodation suitable for voyages of unlimited duration. Six additional personnel can be carried on shorter voyages under Class 2C survey.

The three-level arrangement brings together command, accommodation, crew amenity, machinery, storage, and working functions within a relatively compact custom aluminium vessel. An enclosed wheelhouse and external flybridge provide two operating positions, while the sheltered aft working deck supports patrol, inspection, boarding, and fisheries activities.

A custom 5.5-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also built by Dongara Marine, enables personnel to conduct inspections, boardings, and other work away from the main vessel.

The tender vessel is housed in a central stern ramp and launched or recovered through twin hydraulically operated transom doors, allowing PV Equinox to serve as a base for seaboat operations.

The patrol boat combines the inherent seakeeping characteristics of its fine-entry hullform with twin keels, a Veem gyrostabiliser, and Humphree active interceptors. The twin keels protect the propulsion equipment in shallow or inadequately surveyed waters while also contributing to directional stability and passive roll damping.

Integrated joystick control of the main propulsion and bow thruster assists precise slow-speed manoeuvring and provides position-hold capability. Contemporary navigation, communications, surveillance, thermal-imaging, vessel-monitoring, and CCTV systems support patrol work during the day and at night.

Particular attention was given to reducing noise, vibration, and personnel fatigue. An independent assessment recorded sound levels below 49dB(A) in every cabin while the vessel was stationary with a generator operating. With the propulsion engines operating at maximum continuous rating, noise remained below 74dB(A) throughout the main-deck superstructure and lower-deck accommodation.

Dongara Marine considers PV Equinox to be the most sophisticated patrol boat of its size and type yet produced in Australia, as well as setting a new standard for the quality of construction and finish achieved in this category.

The exceptional concentration of capability it incorporates was made possible by a detailed design and construction process, close engagement with the client, and the contribution of Dongara Marine’s skilled workforce and established supply chain.

PV Equinox continues an established relationship between Dongara Marine and DPIRD. Dongara Marine previously built the fisheries research vessels RV Djildjit Kaartadjiny and RV Bulhamarda for the department and undertook major vessel refit / repower work on the patrol vessels PV Houtman and PV Pelsaert.