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The Hobart-based firm has been selected to develop two oil recovery vessels.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has awarded a $1.4 million contract to PFG for the design and construction of two oil recovery watercraft, with an option to deliver an additional six vessels.
The vessels, to be deployed from Brisbane and Darwin, will be modelled on the Tasmanian company’s Aquatruck Responder design, providing advanced mobility and manoeuvrability.
The watercraft, designed by One2three Naval Architects and constructed in high-density polyethylene (HDPE), are expected to be used in response to oil spill incidents, recovering floating oil and oil debris.
“Aquatrucks are legendary in the Australian maritime industry as reliable and virtually indestructible work boats,” PFG senior business development manager, Stephen McCullum said.
“These new vessels are designed specifically to operate at a high level of performance and reliability and will be at the front line of protecting Australia’s precious coastline.”
This latest contract comes just a month after PFG secured a $6 million award from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), which has tasked the company with designing and developing three 12.5-metre, high-speed littoral manoeuvre craft (LMC) for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
The Sentinel Tactical Watercraft, to be constructed with HDPE, are expected to enhance the Navy’s capability to detect and respond to underwater threats, support expeditionary reconnaissance and facilitate the troop and materiel transportation.
PFG will collaborate with New Zealand-based water propulsion company Hamilton Jet and equipment supplier and sustainment partner General Marine Services of Auckland.
[Related: NZ Navy taps Tasmanian firm to develop high-speed vessels]
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