A multi-award-winning
Tasmanian operator
has ordered three new
amphibious vessels for its
first operation outside the
island state.
The Victorian Government
gave the green light to
Pennicott Wilderness
Journeys’ (PWJ) proposal to
operate eco-tourism cruises
around Wilsons Promontory
National Park in September.
In a venture that is
expected to generate up to
$9.7 million for the local
economy each year PWJ will
operate three 30-seat vesselsAbrolhos
aquaculture zone
goes ahead
Western Australia’s
second large-scale
aquaculture development
zone has been given the
green light following
environmental approval.
Located at the Abrolhos
Islands, the zone is
made up of two areas – a
2200-hectare northern
section, applications
for which are now
being assessed, and an
800-hectare southern
section, which is subject
to an existing aquaculture
licence.
Fully developed, the
aquaculture zone is said
to have the potential toproduce up to 48,000
tonnes of temperate
marine finfish annually
using floating sea cages,
from species that occur
naturally in the Mid-West
region such as yellowtail
kingfish. The zone will
have set limits on tonnes
of fish to be cultured and
stocking densities.
Investment in the
Mid West Aquaculture
Development Zone is
expected to create up to
1400 jobs.
The zone will still be
accessible to commercial
and recreational fishing
on the Abrolhos Islands.Amphibious RIBs
for new operation
Damen Schelde Naval
Shipbuilding (DSNS) has
selected Taylor Bros of
Tasmania to supply two high
powered Antarctic landing
barges for Australia’s new
icebreaker, RSV Nuyina.
Damen is building the
vessel at its yard, Damen
Shipyards Galati, in Romania
for the Australian Antarctic
Division (AAD). The vessel
will be operated by DMS
Maritime, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Serco, and
is an integral part of theAAD’s research program in
Antarctica and the Southern
Ocean.
The signing ceremony was
attended by the Tasmanian
Minister for State Growth,
Peter Gutwein and Damen
Australia project director,
Magiel Venema.
Roland Briene, Damen
area director Asia Pacifi c,
said: “This contract with
Taylor Bros demonstrates
Damen’s strong conviction
in the maxim ‘think global,
act local’.from Tidal River, providing
access to some of the most
popular beaches on the
Prom.
PWJ has commissioned
the three commercial RIBs
to be designed by Naiad
Design, built by Kirby
Marine in Western Australia,
and amphibiously enabled
by Sealegs International’s
Amphibious Enablement
System (AES) 100 system.
The vessels, which are
expected to be launched
early in 2018, will be
approximately 11.5m long
and be powered by twin
350hp Yamaha outboard
engines to give a cruise
speed of approximately
25kts. The design is expected
to be similar to existing
Pennicott Wilderness
Journeys RIBs, but more
open, with only a small
canopy at the stern.
Sealegs said the innovative
solution was required for
PWJ as the amphibiousroute was the only option for
the sensitive national park
location, where construction
of coastline infrastructure is
not possible.
PWJ owner Robert
Pennicott said: “We are
extremely excited to be
working with Sealegs, Naiad,
Yamaha and Kirby Marine
on this project. The Sealegs
technology will allow us to
share a spectacular coastal
environment with visitors
in a way that wasn’t possible
previously.”
Sealegs System 100 has
been developed over three
years using the experience
gained in delivering over
1200 of its pioneering System
60 AES to over 50 countries
since the company’s
inception 13 years ago.
Sealegs System 100
supports a fully amphibious
payload of more than 6.5
tonnes, including propelling
it forward and reverse at up
to 10kph.TASMANIAN COMPANY TO
DELIVER ANTARCTIC BARGES106 trade aboat.com.au
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