The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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In brief… Companies compete to maintain Anzac fleet Classic boat may have come from New Zealand WHEN WE WERE in Sydney in late July we walked over the Pyrmont Bridge with our boys to have breakfast when suddenly there was a "Toot, toot!" The lovely old bridge started to rumble open and in steamed the SS Waratah, followed by the lovely little 36ft counter-stern launch Protex. They put on a grand show maneuvering into position into the berths right under the bridge. The Protex steamed over to us and I could hear a slow "Pop, pop" sound coming from her little engine. As she came close to the jetty where I was standing I asked one of her crew, "What was the make of the engine?" "Kelvin J2," he replied. I know a little about these, as I have a big brother of this breed, a giant K4. The Protex stood by for quite some time while the Waratah replied to the lovely rings of her telegraph and very slowly berthed. The Protex crew invited me aboard and told me all about her. They think she was built about 1908, by whom they don't know. She is built of single-skin ¾in kauri on steam-bent frames and her original name was the Waikare. I would put big bucks she was built here in New Zealand by one of our legendary boatbuilders who were highly respected by Australian ship, yacht and launch owners. Exporting boats is far from a new game for our local boatbuilders. Looking at her one could say she is a Bailey, Bailey & Lowe or Logan, but I don't think so, as most of their boats of this size were three-skin, with two diagonals and the outer skin fore-and-aft. Who knows, but our team from the work boat study group is very keen to find out. Her little Kelvin is an absolute gem of a little Scottish workboat engine - such a lovely collection of iron, brass and bronze castings. It's so nice to see these traditional engines in these old boats. They complete the experience in my mind. by Baden Pascoe BOATBUILDER SAYS TAURANGA IS TOO EXPENSIVE THE FAMILY-OWNED AMF Boat Company says an expensive lease has forced it to leave Tauranga and consolidate the business in Wanganui. The company had occupied a site at Tauranga Airport, operated by the Tauranga City Council, for eight years. "The problem is the airport lease. It was just ripping us apart after it doubled a few years ago," said the managing director of AMF, Brian Collings. AMF had paid a total lease of $100,000 a year for the site on Hewlett Road, which included a 600sq m building. Its 1000sq m site in Wanganui will cost a third of the price. Collings said the decision was "a no-brainer." The six staff, down from 14, were offered jobs in Wanganui, and two had accepted. "Tauranga is regarded as one of the most unaffordable places and it's so true," said Collings. "The council needs to wake up, not dream about what might happen." Four companies or joint ventures have been shortlisted for the Australian Ministry for Defence Materiel's tender for a five- year contract to repair and maintain the Australian Navy's eight Anzac-class frigates. The contract is worth approximately A$300 million. The four are BAE Systems, Babcock/ UGL Infrastructure, Thales Australia and DMS Maritime/Transfield Services. This is the first new group maintenance contract to be released for tender. Currently, each maintenance activity is contracted individually to a panel of companies who compete for the work. The reform will create performance-based contracts for repairing and maintaining the fleet. "This reform provides more security for Australian businesses and more job security for their workforce," the minister, Jason Clare said. "It's a significant change, ending the burden for the industry of having to bid for every job." Rat ate a lethal dose Department of Conservation staff are confident a rat on Rangitoto Island is dead after eating six pellets of rat poison. "Two pellets are a lethal dose," said DoC's Auckland area manager, Brett Butland. A ranger and his specially trained dog found the rat tracks in a routine check of tunnels near the Rangitoto wharf. The tunnels ring Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands as part of biosecurity measures to protect the pest-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Somalians make money from piracy In 2010, Somalian pirates attacked 4185 seafarers with firearms and rocket- propelled grenades, 342 seafarers were rescued from citadels (ships' reinforced security rooms), 1090 seafarers were taken hostage, 516 seafarers were used as human shields and as many as 488 seafarers were subjected to abuse or torture, says our US correspondent, Hugh Ware. More than 400 mariners and 20 vessels are currently held captive. Piracy increases the cost of international commerce by US$12 billion a year. Piracy Somalia-style is big business, with the actual pirates getting only pennies of each ransom dollar. There is even a stock exchange at Harardheere, established in 2009, with more than 70 entities that sell shares in pirate activities. Somalia also has five banks eager and able to launder pirate money. September/October 2011 Professional Skipper 45