Australian Longline, based at Hobart in Tasmania, has placed an order for a new factory longliner for delivery in 2020.
The Tasmanian company went to Skipsteknisk in Norway for the design package for the ST-156L autoliner, developed for fishing toothfish in Antarctic waters. The new vessel is to be built at Vard Group’s shipyard in Vietnam and is scheduled for delivery in 2020.
It will have a 61.90 metre overall length with a 13.50 metre breadth, a 950 cubic metre hold capacity and accommodation for a crew of up to 30 persons.
Australian Longline’s new vessel is expected to operate under challenging conditions beyond 50°S where good seakeeping characteristic and high reliability are key requirements. A strong focus on minimised greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants such as plastics is emphasised in the design criteria.
Australian Longline currently operates two longliners. The 62 metre Antarctic Chieftain is registered in Fremantle, Western Australia. It was built in 2002 and was extensively modified and refurbished in 2008. The 55 metre Antarctic Discovery is registered in Hobart and was extensively refurbished in 2015.
Catches are under the standards established by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and fishing is carried out under the watchful eyes of two government observers.
