The 65m Antarctic supply
vessel l’Astrolabe has been
acquired by YWAM (Youth
With A Mission) Medical Ships
to work in Papua New Guinea.
Renamed YWAM Libertyit is the fourth vessel to be
deployed by YWAM Medical
Ships into PNG, joining Pacific
Link and YWAM PNG which
are both currently serving in
PNG, and RUACH due to joinAntarctic Supply Vessel
Goes Tropical
MG Wins Trawler Contract
Adelaide’s MG Engineering
has secured a $5.5 million
contract to build a fishing
trawler for New Zealand-based
Penwarden Holdings.
The 24m steel and
aluminium trawler is expected
to take 12 months to build and
lead to 15 direct jobs, with a
further 25 expected for the
local supply chain.
MG Engineering’s most
recent large-scale project was
the mast blocks for the Air
Warfare Destroyer program.
“Since the completion of
the mast blocks for AWD in
October 2014, MG Engineering
has unfortunately made some
35 staff redundant through
the lack of other opportunities
in defence/shipbuilding and
other heavy manufacturing
industries,” MG Engineering’s
managing director Anthony
Brdar said.
“The awarding of the fishing
trawler project will enableThe Commonwealth
is to invest an initial
$25 million to support
the establishment of
a Maritime Technical
College to identify, train
and re-train Australian
workers for shipbuilding.
The college will be basedin Adelaide and deliver
training across the country
in key areas such as steel
fabrication, welding and
naval engineering.
The College will deliver
skills in partnership with
existing universities
and training providersacross Australia and
it is anticipated it will
commence operations in
early 2018, with a focus
on increasing key entry-
level trade qualifications
through contracted
Registered Training
Organisations.By the late 2020s the
naval shipbuilding industry
is expected to expand to
more than 5200 employees
in construction in South
Australia, with more than
double that in sustainment
and through the supply
chain across the country.TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR ADELAIDE
the fleet later this year, having
arrived in Newcastle from
Europe in January.
The director of YWAM
Medical Ships PNG, Brett
Curtis, said operation of the
vessel will be a collaborative
effort between national and
provincial health authorities,
YWAM Ships Kona and a
range of YWAM centres from
around the world.
Its large cargo capacity
will enable YWAM to deliver
supplies while its helideck
gives access to even more
remote areas via helicopter.
Previously operated for
P&O Maritime out of Hobart
for many years, YWAM
Liberty arrived in TownsvilleMG Engineering to rebuild its
capabilities in time for the up
and coming offshore patrol
vessel program, as well as
other future fishing trawler
builds both for Australia and
New Zealand.”
MG Engineering anticipates
further opportunities, “with
a large number of fishing
vessels in Australia and New
Zealand due for replacement
in the upcoming decade”.
The vessel has been
designed by another local
company, Oceantech Design.in late March in preparation
for several months of re-
purposing and refitting
operations before it makes its
maiden voyage to PNG.
The French government
chartered l’Astrolabe for
Antarctic supply/research
services for two decades
but has shifted supply for
scientific research to the
French Navy. Through what
YWAM describes as “a set
of remarkable events” P&O
made it possible for YWAM
to acquire l’Astrolabe for
US$300,000, covering the cost
of parts, fuel and relocation,
and agreed to its current
crew delivering the ship from
Hobart to Townsville.Oceantech’s fishing vessel
credentials included the 24m
trawler Santy Maria (below),
built in NZ and delivered last
year, and Austral Fisheries’
new 30m prawn trawlers, the
first of which is being built in
Mauritius by Chantier Naval
De L’Ocean Indien.104 tradeaboat.com.au
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