The PV Waterman, powerful new 12.5 metre boat, was built at Henderson by Kirby Marine Fabrications and has been specifically designed to meet the wide variety of tasks required for Fisheries and Marine Safety patrols. Department of Fisheries’ North Metropolitan Compliance Manager Todd A’Vard informed that the new vessel provided a much safer working platform for patrol officers who would be required to carry out compliance work in difficult weather conditions.
According to A’Vard the new boat easily handles the worst weather the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ can throw at us, can cruise at 30knots fully laden with six crews and has enough range to go well offshore. He also told that it has outstanding manoeuvrability. It can turn within its own length and also has a very shallow draught to deal with inshore compliance issues.
It is told that PV Waterman, which will be based at Hillarys, will generally operate between Wedge Island in the north to Fremantle in the south and also conduct patrols through the Marmion Marine Park, to ensure the special rules that apply there are being followed. A’Vard said the new $482,000 vessel replaced an aging patrol boat that faced limitations in certain situations and poor weather and ocean conditions.
He pointed out that PV Waterman is a much faster vessel than the patrol boat it replaces, which will be very useful in case of any emergencies.
