VESSEL REVIEW | Te Runanga – New Zealand’s Westfleet welcomes Southern Ocean ling catcher

Greymouth, New Zealand-based fishing company Westfleet Seafoods recently took delivery of a new longline fishing vessel built by compatriot shipyard the AIMEX Service Group.

Designed by Australian naval architecture firm Oceantech, the vessel has been named Te Runanga after a town in New Zealand’s West Coast region. The longliner will be operated 300 days out of one year to fish for ling and other species in a vast area that stretches from New Zealand’s West Coast to further out in the Southern Ocean. Key features include traceability technology that will allow customers to use barcodes to identify the areas where each landed fish was caught, which is particularly beneficial when serving consumers in high-end markets.

Te Runanga has a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure, an LOA of 26 metres, a beam of 7.8 metres, and accommodations for an eight-strong crew. The dimensions make the vessel Westfleet’s largest longliner, boasting greater hold space compared to its predecessors and enhanced durability to withstand conditions in fishing areas where smaller vessels will have difficulty operating. A refrigerated hold can store up to 15.6 cubic metres while a chiller room has a total volume of 112.5 cubic metres. Insulated totes will be used for the stowage of catch for greater efficiency in handling and offloading.

There is also greater space for crew amenities to ensure comfort during extended periods out at sea. The upper day room spaces benefit from 360-degree views and are adjacent to the wheelhouse to facilitate better interaction between the skipper and the crew. Belowdeck are the crew cabins, each with its own TV screen and wifi connectivity.

Power is provided by a Cummins QSK19-M diesel engine with a rated output of 492 kW at 1,800 rpm driving a fixed-pitch propeller via a ZF gearbox. An extended operating endurance is guaranteed by a total fuel tank capacity of 60,340 litres.

The vessel is also fitted with baffling systems and laser emitters to prevent birds from grabbing bait from hooks.