Crayfishing vessel launches Nelson boat builder
A 13-metre crayfishing boat bound for the Chatham Islands has launched the boat-building phase of a Nelson company.
The $1.4 million vessel Valkyrie was loaded on to a truck at McKenzie Marine this month for the first part of its journey that will see it plying the waters around the Chathams for crayfish and blue cod.
Owner Lewis McKenzie started his business three years ago as a general marine engineering company, servicing some of Nelson’s inshore fishing trawlers.
A Facebook post drew interest from a Chatham Islands fisherman and now McKenzie has about 20 customers on the islands, about 800km east of Christchurch.
He has flown there a dozen times in the past three years; “they find it very difficult to get engineers over there”. In true island style, the contract to build the crayfishing boat was sealed with a handshake.
Fishing is a major part of the island economy, with crayfish exported live to the lucrative Chinese market.
The aluminium boat has a specially designed hull to cope with the harsh environment around Pitt Island where it will be based. It has two, 480-horsepower diesel engines, with a maximum speed of 40 knots.
“They fish in quite shall water and rough conditions,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie’s father and two brothers were boat builders, but he started off as a general engineer before moving into marine work six years ago.
“I found that was really what my passion was and followed that route.”
McKenzie said the company’s first boat building experience had been a positive one and “it’s something we want to keep on doing”.
The Valkyrie is now in a survey period before heading to the Chathams next month.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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