‘Angelina’ is the 13th vessel in Peter James’ highly successful career as ship designer for Adelaide Ship Construction International. Like all it’s predecessors, proudly carrying the ASCI banner, it has some notable distinctive characteristics, from the enlarged wheelhouse to the striking and traditional, Puglisi fleet livery.

‘Angelina’ is the fifth vessel to be so named in the Puglisi’s fleet, and has been designed to enable its economic alternative utilisation outside of the prawning seasons. This has been achieved notably with the addition of a towing bollard which can replace the Haldane grading table on the after deck to tow tuna cages, and a chiller system to be used in tuna harvesting. The towing bollard withstood an impressive pull of 8.2 tons during sea trials.

In fact the Puglisi family have declared themselves delighted with the new ‘Angelina’. One of the old established fishing dynasties in Port Lincoln, their interests include tuna farms and a mussel farm, with three other vessels in the fleet fishing for tuna. They are ‘Beauie J’, ‘Maya’ and ‘Santa Anna’. This new ‘Angelina’ will make their fourth vessel and add to the efficiency and versatility of their operations overall.

The Puglisi family chose a Cummins package for the vessel, favouring a KTA 19M keel cooled main engine rated at 258kW at 1,650rpm, fitted with a Twin Disc MG 516 gearbox with a ratio of 6.0:1. Propulsion is effected via a 1,800mm diameter Veem fixed pitch propeller within a nozzle.

Auxiliary power is supplied by a Cummins dedicated generator, a keel cooled 6BT5.9 G2, with a Newage alternator producing 96kVA at 1,500rpm.

The second auxiliary is a combination generator/hydraulic drive, details as before, and the third auxiliary is a dedicated hydraulic drive being a keel cooled 6BT5.9 producing 100kW at 1,500rpm. The engine compartment is clean and roomy, with easy access to all units. Local firm C&A provided the keyless rudder carrier bearing and tiller arm assembly, and a 74kW bow thruster should give the vessel considerable additional manoeuvrability.

The traditional bulbous bow guarantees additional advantages in economy and increased speed, as well as providing a more stable working platform for the crew. All winches and hydraulics are provided by EBM Hydraulics from Port Adelaide, including the single centrally located console abaft the wheelhouse, offering ease of operation within sight of all working gear.

The refrigeration and chiller system were provided, and installed by CM Heithersay Industries utilising two Bitzer rotary screw compressors with oil cooling and R507 refrigerant. All the pipe work is stainless steel, and the low temperature evaporators are fitted with Danfoss electronic TX valves.

The vessel was fitted with one of Haldane’s proven grading tables and hoppers in Port Lincoln, allowing the prawns to be graded into seven sizes. The machine is not only easy to operate and set up, but optimises working space on deck with the two articulated side tables that allow for an efficient and rapid catch return. It folds into a compact unit when not in use, and is easily removed when the vessel’s towing bollard requires installation.

The air conditioned wheelhouse and accommodation are finished with the Dante woodwork the yard is now famous for, giving a truly traditional appearance and atmosphere. The largely Simrad electronic package was supplied by Quinn’s of Port Adelaide but installed by IES Electronics of Port Lincoln, and includes a Wesmar sonar, Simrad GPS, plotter, sounder and radar, a Simrad Robertson autopilot and gyro compass. The radios consist of a Koden 9130 HF and an Icom M45 VHF.

The wheelhouse has been extended by a full frame space, or 450mm, aft, giving a much greater feeling of spaciousness, whilst also leaving open the possibility of an additional partition and sea cabin being fitted on the bridge at some later stage. The layout of instrumentation and electronic monitors is well thought out, with the latter clear and easy to read from the skipper’s comfortably upholstered char set off to starboard. The view from the roomy wheelhouse is superb and offers virtually all round vision when working the vessel. All radios are mounted in an overhead communication console set to starboard and a traditional wooden steering wheel sets off the finish nicely.

The crew are comfortably housed in three double berth cabins adjacent to the bright and well appointed mess room, which houses an impressive entertainment system and again the Dante woodwork, coupled with the black leather upholstery, gives the whole area a nice traditional, bright and yet homely touch.

The Puglisi family’s choice would appear well justified in this well equipped and modern vessel, which boasts every technical, and practical, advantage required for her dual role. And all this, as Bob happily admits, “at the right price”.

Bob and Andrew Puglisi are experienced and discriminating operators, and their faith in the builders has certainly proven well justified, as they have expressed their complete satisfaction and pleasure with the finished ‘Angelina’