South Australia owner orders lobster boat from Dongara Marine

Dongara Marine has won an order for a new custom-built vessel from a rock lobster fisherman based in South Australia.

The 17.8-metre-long aluminium monohull boat will be designed by Southerly Designs. It will feature a single-level wheelhouse, an arrangement that is common for lobster boats built for South Australia.

The superstructure will be manufactured from composites using resin-infused moulding techniques to deliver a very high standard of finish as well as light weight and noise, vibration, and thermal insulation

In addition to the helm station, galley and mess in the wheelhouse, accommodation for three crew is provided to Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) AL 36-72 standards. This includes two berths in a forward cabin and an owner/master’s cabin with queen-sized berth beneath the wheelhouse.

The monohull will be single-screw with propulsion power coming from an MTU 8V2000 M72 diesel engine as specifically requested by the owner. Driving a fixed-pitch propeller through a Twin Disc gearbox, this is expected to deliver a maximum speed of 23 knots and economical cruising at 18.5 knots.

The boat will have capacity for 750 kilograms of live lobster and 4,000 litres of fuel.