For some time Stark Bros has had a new build 14.5m NZ Kauri Timber Trawler in their timber workshop adjacent to the dry dock that has slowly been nearing completion – around Stark’s many other ship repair/dry docking contracts/projects – for many years. Some even joked it might grow legs!
But to the surprise of some, on the 15th September 2021 the new vessel was slowly moved out of the workshop and into the sunshine- the gantry was installed, and then it moved dockside, prior to being lifted into the dry dock at 1100 hours on Tuesday 21st September 2021, when the dry dock was full of water before the next double docking took place at 1530 hours on the same day.
A small piece of Stark Bros history – on the 12th April 1967 the FV Bluewater, a brand new 50ft NZ Kauri Timber Trawler was lifted into the Dry Dock by the then Lyttelton Harbour Boards floating crane –the MV Rapaki – now 54 years later the 14.5m Timber Trawler is the second vessel Stark Bros have lifted into the dry dock – this time using Smiths Cranes.
The FV Bluewater was the first timber trawler built by Stark Bros Ltd for what would become their inshore fishing company Ocean Fisheries Ltd, and on that occasion the lifting into the dry dock was a launching – with ceremonies completed by Frank Stark’s fiancé Liz Read, then being married on the 6th May 1967 – so a busy few weeks.
Since 1967, Ocean Fisheries Ltd has almost constantly enjoyed the most modern fleet of fishing trawlers in NZ – and if the 14.5mTimber Trawler ends up in the Ocean Fisheries fleet it will be the 12th new fishing trawler they have operated in 54 years.
This vessel is definitely for sale, and it would be a fantastic statement of confidence in the industry if purchased by any number of large quota owners, fishing companies, iwi’s or long-term fishing operators.
It has been said that it may well be the last of its kind to be professionally built in NZ, and being NZ Kauri should outlast any owner –and “if” not sold, then Ocean Fisheries Ltd will proudly add it to their existing fleet and carry on the tradition of catching good quantities of high quality fresh fish, landed to United Fisheries here in Lyttelton.
The basic vessel details are as follows:
Building Name : 14.5mTimber Trawler
Length : 14.50m
Beam : 4.84m
Draft : 2.05m
So, while not an official launching, Stark Bros see this moving to the water as another step in the process, enabling ballasting, incline testing, final completion and survey – with launching and naming of the vessel to occur at a later date – either by Ocean Fisheries Ltd or by a proud new owner ….
The Stark Bros team are very proud of the achievement to date, and therefore celebrate this milestone. If more information or high res photos are required by please contact Stark Bros.
Andrew Stark
Chief Executive
Stark Bros Ltd / Ocean Fisheries Ltd
Office Ph. (++64) 03 328 8550
web : www.starkbros.co.nz
