GEAR | More than a lobster boat

Bass Marine’s Poppa G has all the features and appearance of the typical, albeit large, lobster boat but was designed, built, and equipped for more than lobster fishing.

The 26.5-metre-long, 6.8-metre-wide boat also has the versatility to undertake offshore support work including crew/supply vessel operations; charter boat activities; and both lobster and wet line fishing.

As with other recent lobster fishing boats from Western Australian boatbuilder Dongara Marine, Poppa G has the size, seakeeping, capacity and onboard systems to fish in deep waters and rough seas well offshore and return the live catch in pristine condition. This includes live tanks for up to 6.5 tonnes (210 baskets) of lobster.

Reflecting its utility, the vessel can carry 20 tonnes of deck cargo and is fitted with a knuckle boom crane amidships. Larger deck cranes can be fitted aft for offshore and construction support work.

Also differentiating Poppa G is its liveaboard capacity, with five cabins providing accommodation for eight personnel for unlimited periods at sea up to 200 nautical miles offshore, increasing to 13 personnel for up to 36 hours at sea. It can carry up to 70 passengers for crew transfer and charter / tourism operations.

Reflecting the success of the project, the Bass family has since contracted Dongara Marine for two major refits, the 12.5-metre pilot boat RIB Beyond Vegas which went in to the shed when Poppa G came out in late December 2018 and emerged as the multipurpose pilot/work/survey vessel Optimus 1000 in May this year; and Bass Marine’s 23-metre, long-range offshore operations vessel Adrianus arrived for a complete refit and paint in October, which is currently underway.