New Zealand: Port of Tauranga is about to take delivery of a new 16.3-metre boat designed by Auckland's Bakewell-White and built by Wanganui's Q-West Boat Builders.
Named 'Arataki' (meaning to guide or lead in Maori), the NZ$2.0 million vessel is larger and quieter than its 25-year-old predecessor, the 'Tauranga II'.
Port of Tauranga operations manager Nigel Drake says having served the port well, the 'Tauranga II' was "starting to show her age".
"By building a new vessel from scratch, we've been able to utilise all of the new technologies available — steering systems, computer systems, the latest building materials and technics," he said.
"Ultimately, we want to provide a safe, stable and comfortable platform for our pilots and launch crew, in a wide variety of sea and weather conditions. The resulting standard of build and detail is a credit to all parties involved."
Features include wide decks, safety rails and travellers around the foredeck, a full height engine room and wheelhouse designed for maximum visibility. It can seat four pilots plus a crew of two and has a service speed of 25 knots powered by twin 559kW Scania V8 marine diesel engines.
Iain MacIntyre