The Puyallup Tribe of Washington State has obtained a new boat that will aid in the monitoring of shellfish. Named Sovereign One, the custom-built aluminium catamaran is better equipped to navigate rough waters than the previous monitor boat, according to Big Bean Flores, a senior shellfish monitor who has been working in the Puyallup Tribe's shellfish department for more than 10 years.
The boat's main purpose is to keep the shellfish monitors safe, allowing them to perform their duties more effectively to ensure the safety of shellfish harvesters as well as of the shellfish themselves.
The vessel measures 35 by 13 feet (10.6 by 3.96 metres) and is powered by twin Yamaha 425hp (316kW) engines fed by a 400-gallon (1,514-litre) tank. The wheelhouse has a galley, berths for four people, and insulation and heating equipment to permit operations even during winter. A Garmin radar meanwhile assists in navigation.
A secondary helm station on the open aft deck will be utilised to enable the crew to directly interact with harvesters without relinquishing manoeuvring control of the vessel.
Sovereign One's main area of operations encompasses the Salish Sea.
| Sovereign One | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Shellfish monitor boat |
| Flag: | USA |
| Builder: | Brix Marine |
| Owner: | Puyallup Tribe, Washington, USA |
| Hull construction material: | Aluminium |
| Superstructure construction material: | Aluminium |
| Deck construction material: | Aluminium |
| Length overall: | 35 feet (10.6 metres) |
| Beam: | 13 feet (3.96 metres) |
| Main engines: | 2 x Yamaha each 425 hp (316 kW) |
| Radar: | Garmin |
| Fuel capacity: | 400 gallons (1,514 litres) |
| Accommodation: | Galley; berths |
| Crew: | 4 |
| Operational area: | Salish Sea, USA |