VESSEL REVIEW | Djildjit Kaartadjiny – Compact, long-endurance boat for marine research in Western Australia’s waters

The Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recently took delivery of a new vessel to be used for fisheries research.

Built to a design by Southerly Designs, the vessel has been named Djildjit Kaartadjiny and replaces the DPIRD's earlier research vessel George Cassels, which is no longer operational.

The new boat will be based at Hillarys and used for a wide range of fisheries research and scientific activities across Western Australia. It will be deployed to survey and monitor the health of Western Australia's fisheries including Western Rock Lobster, crabs, and demersal fish.

The boat's versatility also allows it to be used to support the Shark Monitoring Network and State-wide Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) program, as well as projects undertaken by DPIRD research partners.

Surveys for operations can be conducted up to 200 nautical miles offshore.

A small boat with enhanced operational flexibility

"It is a complex vessel," Andrew Taylor, Managing Director of Southerly Designs, told Baird Maritime. "Although similar to our [award winning] earlier fishing boat Raging Bull with regard to the initial concept (a single-screw, all-aluminium, monohull), the two vessels are worlds apart. Specifically, the DPIRD boat has been referred to as a 'Swiss Army knife' due to the extensive and diverse range of onboard equipment as well as the capability that has been built into it."

Taylor explained that the brief was for a relatively simple vessel of modest size and speed requirements to be able to fulfil a wide range of research task. Consequently, during the design and construction process, there were new capabilities and equipment that were added to the initial brief.

Djildjit Kaartadjiny is larger than the vessel it replaced, having a length of 18.6 metres (61 feet) to provide a more capable multi-purpose platform. This will enable it to be used for a broader range of research, stock assessment, and science monitoring tasks. For instance, the new boat can also manage a variety of specialised research equipment such as fish traps and crustacean pots, baited remote underwater video cameras (BRUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and towed underwater survey cameras.

The boat's design features a low profile, an extended wheelhouse forward of an expansive aft working deck that is equipped and arranged to support diverse operational needs. This includes an A-frame, a deck crane, a pot winch, and a pot tipper.

The hydraulically operated A-frame was custom designed and manufactured to enable deployment of heavy equipment and nets weighing up to three tonnes. Also fitted at the transom is a folding stern launch and recovery ramp, which can be removed when not required. The stern launch arrangement enables the vessel to deploy and retrieve a variety of auxiliary craft measuring up to six metres in length.

The deck structure and the hydraulic systems also enable the DPIRD to fit other equipment such as trawl/wire drum winches and longline drums depending on research requirements.

Helm controls are fitted in a main station in the port aft quarter of the raised wheelhouse and in a secondary external station. The wheelhouse also has starboard side space for a mess/seating area for up to seven people.

The propulsion arrangement consists of one MAN D2862 LE426 1,140kW (1,530hp) diesel engine, a five-bladed Veem propeller, two Sleipner side thrusters, and a ZF 3000 gearbox fitted with trolling valves to support extended low-speed operation. The engine is fed by tanks with a total capacity of 7,600 litres (2,000 gallons). The propulsion enables the vessel to reach a maximum speed of 24.5 knots and sail up to 800 nautical miles at 16 knots.

An Aventics Marex 3D three-axis joystick system enables simultaneous, integrated control of the main engine and both thrusters through joysticks fitted at both main and external helm positions. With the system in 3D mode, the crew can steer the vessel in any direction simply by pushing or turning the joystick.

The Marex OS control system coordinates the drives and holds the heading by compensating for the yaw caused by wind or current. If necessary, the heading can be easily changed by rotating the top part of the joystick. The system also enables direction and/or position to be automatically maintained at the push of a button, providing a dynamic positioning/virtual anchor capability.

Alternatively, the thrusters and engine can be controlled separately using thruster mode.

A full Humphree active ride control system is fitted, with interceptors providing a 50 per cent greater lift force than standard interceptors for greater control. A specialised function pack provides maximum functionality adding roll stabilisation, coordinated turn, and vessel motion monitoring (VMM) to the standard automatic list and pitch control capabilities. To allow for potential future upgrades, the vessel is fitted for, but not with, a gyrostabiliser.

The vessel also has a 645-litre (170-gallon) freshwater tank, an Idromar watermaker, and separate tanks for storing fuel for the auxiliary craft's outboard engines. These latter tanks have the necessary plumbing that will enable them to also be used for transporting live rock lobster.

A 31kVA Mase Mariner 3000 generator and PV panels fitted on the wheelhouse roof will supplement the vessel's electrical power generation capability.

Full electronics suite for extended-duration research trips

The vessel's navigation kit includes three Simrad displays and a smaller Furuno TZT3 multi-function display on the main helm console. Also fitted is a navigation computer running a TimeZero Professional system complete with MaxSea charts and a personal bathymetry generation (PBG) module that enables 2D and 3D depth information to be collected and recorded in real time.

Furuno also provided the vessel's bottom discrimination sounder, multi-beam sonar, and fish finder with amplifier. The primary transducer is an Airmar CM111 2KW widebeam, low-high frequency unit.

A Furuno DRS4D-NXT solid state Doppler ultra-high definition radar provides coverage out to 48 nautical miles while a Furuno SCX-20 quad antenna satellite compass provides highly accurate speed, heading, pitch, roll, and heave information. Also fitted are a Simrad A2004 autopilot, a Furuno FA-70 AIS, and a Furuno GP-39 GPS.

The communications suite consists of an Icom VHF radio, an Iridium satellite phone, a Cel-Fi Go mobile phone signal repeater/booster, and a Starlink system for internet connectivity.

Also integrated is a Maretron onboard monitoring and control system, and a 120WX Airmar weather station. A Vision Pro CCTV system is fitted for visual monitoring around the vessel, and a Precision Vision IP68-rated camera is fitted for monitoring anchor recovery. A Fusion MS-RA55 marine entertainment system and Samsung television are fitted.

"The biggest challenge in designing this vessel was in finding a way to accommodate the wide array of different equipment and functionality into a relatively small hull," said Taylor.

Liveaboard accommodations for crew and scientists

An adjacent galley features appliances including a Bosch induction cooktop, a Fisher and Paykel drawer dishwasher, a Westinghouse refrigerator/freezer, and a Samsung 45-litre microwave oven. This continues below deck where amenities include an Electrolux washer-dryer, Bosch hot water service, and Haier chest freezers.

Stairs down from the wheelhouse lead to the sleeping accommodation. Spread across three areas, including a dedicated master's cabin, are a total of five berths. While the vessel will typically be operated by two crew, the accommodation spaces and facilities meet Australian Maritime Safety Authority NSCV Accommodation Level (AL) 72+ requirements enabling up to four people to be on board for unlimited durations, though the normal operating profile will entail research trips with maximum durations of 15 days each.

Larger complements can be carried for shorter duration voyages, with one configuration including two crew and six additional personnel for day trips. All interior spaces are kept comfortable with the aid of Webasto AC units and noise abatement materials.

To enhance habitability, use of all available onboard space has been maximised and the lighting, both natural and artificial, has been enhanced.

"As is often the case," Taylor told Baird Maritime, "there are lessons to be learned in all aspects of the design and build process, resulting in a continual accumulation of knowledge and experience."

Djildjit Kaartadjiny departed on its first operational voyage last March 2024 when it sailed to a point off Western Australia's Mid West Coast to deploy BRUVs and ROVs to support West Coast demersal fishery recovery efforts.