The Australian Border
Force (ABF) has bolstered
its maritime capabilities
in South Australia with the
launch of a new, locally-
built Port Harbour and
Coastal (PHC) vessel.
Built by Marko and
Tanya Bacic’s boatbuilding
company Nautic Star,
the 7.3m vessel has been
namedLimestoneand will
operate in and around
South Australia’s ports and
waterways. Powered by twin
200hp Yamaha outboards,
it can manoeuvre at high
speeds to intercept target
vessels as well as conduct
vessel boardings and
patrols.
The vessel is one of 13
new PHC vessels being
rolled out across Australiawith the total tender valued
at more than $10.5 million.
Five of the vessels are being
constructed in Adelaide.
ABF Acting Deputy
Commissioner Kingsley
Woodford-Smith said the
vessel would assist ABF
officers to detect, deter and
disrupt border and customs
related crimes around
South Australia’s coastline.Furneaux Freight has
announced its decision to
commission a newbuild to
replace its existing freight
vesselMatthew Flinders III.
The Bridport, Tasmania-
based shipping company
has elected to build the new
vessel,tobenamedMatthew
Flinders IV, in Tasmania.
The Bayles family, which
controls Furneaux Freight,NEW ABF VESSEL
FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
“The additional capability
will increase the ABF’s on-
water presence and provide
a greater rapid-response
capability for our officers,”
Deputy Commissioner
Woodford-Smith said.
Based in the Adelaide
suburb of Lonsdale, Nautic
Star has been building
custom aluminium boats
since 1999. It only builds
vessels to a survey standard,
regardless of whether
the boat is being built for
government, commercial,
charter or recreational use.
The hullform employed
has been fine tuned over the
years to a point where the
Bacics consider they have
obtained “a no compromise
balance between soft riding,
rough water performance
in any direction and also
equally as good calm water
performance.”
Commenting on the
relationship, Woodford-
Smith said: “We are very
pleased to be working with
well-established Adelaide
vessel-building companies,
Nautic Star and SeaForce, to
simultaneously boost ABF
capabilities and support
the local vessel-building
industry in South Australia.”also operates a boatbuilding
business, FC Management.
The company says the
new purpose-built vessel
will incorporate state-of-
the-art technology to deliver
an improved and enhanced
service to the Furneaux
Group.
“Incorporating increased
carrying capabilities
and dedicated passenger
facilities, Matthew
Flinders IV aims to
revolutionise the existing
service whilst providing
security for existing and
future investment in the
Islands' local economies,”the company said in a
statement.
The 35m long, 12m wide
monohull will be able to
carry 32 TEU containers
/ 4500 sheep / 600 cattle
and be able to operate at
10kt. Matthew Flinders III
is a 44.7m by 10.8m stern
landing vessel, built in 1995.
Furneaux Freight operates
out of Bridport, servicing the
Furneaux Group of Islands,
including Flinders Island,
Cape Barren Island and an
on demand service to King
Island and Port Welshpool in
Victoria.FURNEAUX FOR
NEW BASS STRAIT
FREIGHT BOAT
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