Ingenuity leads patrol vessel project
In early 2021, Rivergate Shipyard was awarded the contract to undertake a range of works onboard Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol vessel the K.I. Ross that included the vessel’s main engines, gear boxes along with a series of improvements to the vessels systems.
K.I. Ross patrols the waters from the NSW border to Bowen.
The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP), a division of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), operates a diverse fleet of commercially registered watercraft. This fleet ranges from 3.4m aluminium punts to its largest offshore vessel at 24m which operates out to 200 nautical miles offshore.
The K.I. Ross is a 24m, aluminium monohull custom-built in Geraldton WA in 1999. Over the past 21 years, the vessel has covered the offshore waters between the NSW border and Bowen. The K.I. Ross is currently based in Brisbane and has a crew of between four and six, depending on the vessel’s tasking requirements.
The K.I. Ross is equipped with a 5.6m RIB, known as Scampi, with a quick launch facility that enables a very smooth launching and retrieval operation whilst at sea. Scampi has the capacity for over the horizon operations, thus enhancing the element of surprise.
The superior hull design from Southerly Designs was modelled on the Australian Customs Service vessel Delphinus which proved to be a reliable, capable and efficient vessel. From this design numerous other vessels were built and to this day, six of the vessels remain in service around Australia and Tasmania.
The QBFP monitor compliance with the State and Commonwealth legislation through field enforcement, investigation, surveillance, and inspection activities. They also undertake investigations of fisheries, fisheries habitat, and small craft safety non-compliance as well as education services that enable the community to develop knowledge and understanding of fisheries resource management and small craft safety.
The vessel is helmed by Captain Cherelle Broughton and was named after former QBFP District Officer, Kenneth Ivan Ross who started as a patrol officer in the late 1960s and progressed through the ranks to District officer in Yeppoon.
Ken was a Vessel Master of many of QBFP’s offshore vessels and introduced technology into patrols including the first computer at the Cairns station.
K.I. Ross docked at Rivergate for major refit works.
As K.I. Ross Chief Engineer Graham Shield explains, “We work a lot with other authorities and agencies like Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Queensland Police Service (QPS), Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service (QNPWS), Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority (GBRPMA) and a range of others with what we refer to as ‘cross decking’”.
“This has proven to be very successful way of doing business at sea over many years. K.I. Ross is an inter-agency resource, and we undertake skill sharing and crew training at sea.
“We’re all very fond of the boat,” says Graham. “The work and weather can present challenges at times, but it’s exciting working at sea and the K.I. Ross has everything onboard that’s required for tough assignments.”
The K.I. Ross is powered by two Caterpillar 3412 (CAT) marine diesel engines, with twin fixed pitch propellers that can achieve a top speed of 25 knots and cruise comfortably at 22 knots. It has a 15,000 Litre fuel capacity and accommodation for up to eight crew and extra personnel as required.
The complex refit project was overseen by Rivergate Project Manager, Hadyn Griffith a boat builder who has been in the industry since 1979 with an extensive background stemming back to working for Lloyds Ships in Brisbane.
He describes the scope of work as vast, spanning some significant improvements to the vessel.
Some of the engineering team from MPS working on the engines.
The main work was the removal and re-installation of the existing engines and gear boxes. Both were sent away to be rebuilt equivalent to zero hours rebuild. There was also a range of works on the aluminium, to manage fatigue and corrosion concerns.
Another significant enhancement was the removal and replacement of the existing stern tubes.
During the refit, the entire wheelhouse was given a new look with a new state-of-the-art arrangement of marine electronics and electrics system, include two radars, the latest GPS plotter systems and new depth sounders with a suitable redundancy system for the crew at sea. The vessel was fitted with the latest Vessel Tracking unit so the crew can monitor a range of commercial fishing vessels at sea.
Other modifications included a modern waste-treatment system to replace the existing system which will make the K.I. Ross more self-sufficient at sea. The vessel’s five diesel fuel tanks were also cleaned along with a range of general repairs and maintenance items.
During the refit process, as many as 15 contractors/marine trade professionals worked on the vessel. Originally the project was expected to be completed by mid-May 2021, however the project was delayed due to a lag in the manufacture and delivery of parts from Japan for the Twin Disc Gear Boxes – a direct result of the pandemic.
“The CAT engines were sent away to ‘Gold Power Diesels’ at Mudjimba on the Sunshine Coast, who specialise in CAT engines,” says Haydn. The Twin Disc Gear Boxes were sent to Eagle Farm, Brisbane to the Twin Disc factory.”
During the refit process of the CAT engines, Hadyn and the K.I. Ross crew were on-site at Gold Power Diesels to observe both (3412) main engines undertaking their initial start-up and Dyno testing.
Both engines were observed reaching their required 1000hp rating with no issues.
The engines being reinstalled on K.I. Ross.
The K.I. Ross will ultimately be modernised up to international standards. “K.I. Ross is a very well-maintained and she in exceptionally good condition, which is a credit to her crew,” says Haydn.
Maritime Professional Solutions (MPS) undertook several engineering tasks. As Director, Joel Allingham explains “We had five to six people working on this project, which certainly challenged us, specifically in the emergent work during the project”.
“The engines were sent away for rebuild and when we pulled out the shaft lines, we found some issues in the stern tubes. The gearboxes had been sent away and stripped down and there was a delay in getting the gear box parts.
“Our solution was to design and manufacture out of aluminium a dummy gear box. We put the engines back in, then cut out and replaced the stern tubes, then carried out the process of reinstalling the prop shafts to conduct the engine alignments.
“Once the rebuilt gearboxes return from Twin Disc, we will remove the mock gear boxes so the original units can be reinstalled and the K.I. Ross can return to sea”.
Without that ingenious solution, the project could have been delayed by months.
“It was a first for us,” says Joel. “We’re thrilled with the solution and eliminated further delay. We have just reinstalled the engines and we’re halfway through the stern shaft replacement.
From his observations of the vessel, Joel says the K.I. Ross is in “incredible condition for its age”.
“Full credit to the Fisheries crews. She’s in pristine condition. Well done on maintaining the engine and other systems onboard.”
Graham Shield is generous in his praise for the team at Rivergate.
“The precinct is buzzing,” he says. “I’ve been there every day and it’s a brilliant place to work. They are all very professional. During the past five months AusShips have successfully refitted three of Fisheries purpose-built RIBS and their work and project delivery was to a very high standard.”