Manaia is an 8.5m aluminium catamaran. Photo / Northport Ltd
Manaia is an 8.5m aluminium catamaran. Photo / Northport Ltd
She's got a top speed of 36 knots and is the latest boat to join Whangarei Harbour's workforce.
Northport Ltd's new 8.5m aluminium catamaran, the Manaia, has been launched at Marsden Cove Marina and will be used for the on-water maintenance of navigation aids from the harbour entrance to GoldenBay Cement at Portland.
Built by Whangarei aluminium pontoon boat builder Blackdog Cat Boats, the workboat will help the port maintain the Dynamic Under-Keel Clearance (DUKC) system which allows large vessels to cross the harbour entrance safely and approach the jetties and wharves at Refining NZ and Northport.
Manaia will also be used as a hydrographic survey platform, which involves measuring and helping to describe the features which affect activities such as maritime navigation, marine construction and dredging.
The boat will also help staff inspect and maintain other port infrastructure.
Northport chief executive Jon Moore said the company was keen on commissioning the boat from a local company.
"Blackdog Cat has done us proud and we'd love to see the 8.5m result of our joint design process become a viable addition to its regular range of products," he said.
The boat is, of course, named after the Whangarei chief who, according to Maori legend, was a mythical being - half bird and half fish - and a messenger between the earthly world of mortals and the domain of the spirits, guarding against evil.
"We thought Manaia was a particularly appropriate name for this vessel as its work will focus predominantly on maintaining our navigation aids, which certainly do guard our marine traffic against evil," Mr Moore said.
