DONGARA Marine recently delivered its second work boat for a business at Port Hedland.
Jetwave Stanley Point has been operating in Port Hedland since shortly after Dongara Marine completed it in late April.
Owner Jetwave Marine Services approached Dongara after learning of the Western Australian boatbuilder’s first Bulldog Class work boat which was delivered to Pilbara Ports Authority last year.
While the PPA primarily uses its vessel for harbour maintenance, Jetwave Marine Services wanted a similar design but customised for work as a lines boat.
It also wanted diesel inboard and waterjet propulsion rather than the outboards used on the PPA vessel.
Jetwave Marine Services managing director Michael Hansen said multiple factors led to the choice of the Dongara offer.
“We sought and received bids from a number of builders offering various designs, but ultimately determined that the Dongara Marine offer provided us with the best combination of performance, quality, and after build service,” Mr Hansen said.
With a length of 10 metres and beam of 3.2 metres, Jetwave Stanley Point is slightly longer and wider than the original Bulldog Class but retains the “punt” style hull form with modified forward sections.
Other features that reflect the vessel’s use for lines handling include:
• A towing crucifix rated to five tonnes;
• The ability to develop 1.2 tonnes of bollard pull (which was confirmed on trials); and
• Designed, built, and equipped to ensure there are no external fittings or other potential catch points for ships lines.
Jetwave Marine Services is using the vessel to transfer personnel within the port.
Even though speed was important, Dongara Marine fabricated the vessel with scantlings that exceeds the NSCV minimum requirements.
“We know from our own experience as professional mariners that robustness and longevity are extremely valuable to operators, especially for boats like this that work in close quarters harbour situations and demanding environmental conditions,” said Dongara Marine managing director Rohan Warr. “For that reason we almost exclusively used six millimetre aluminium plate for the structure.”
Despite the resultant weight penalty, the utility vessel has a maximum speed of 32 knots and can comfortably and cruise at 24 knots.
Power comes from a single Yanmar diesel driving a HamiltonJet HJ322 waterjet.
Jetwave Marine Services’s operations manager Michael Warren said the quality of workmanship, and performance of the vessel were equally impressive.
“We pride ourselves on being reliable and customer-orientated, and it’s clear that Rohan and the team have a similar approach,” Mr Warren said.
“They have been really pro-active from the outset, really listening and responding to our needs. We will be working with them again very soon.”
