The ‘Marija L’, the 17th New Generation prawn trawler in a long list, is the second boat to be built (‘Evelyn L’ being the first) for Steve and Robert Letinic of Port Lincoln, and continues a long partnership between these highly respected fishermen and Adelaide Ship Construction International.

‘Marija L has seen some further refinements to Steve and Robert’s requirements, with the changes being carefully included into her design by the yard under the direction of naval architect Peter James, most notably the increased flare in the bow, which provides improved clearance forward when anchoring, as well as improving the vessel’s sea keeping qualities, especially when working her way into a head sea.

In the well thought out wheelhouse, the helm itself is sited amidships with a wrap-around console containing the interfaced state of the art Simrad plasma computer screens and with ready accessibility to all controls and gauges.

‘Marija L’s wheelhouse has an impressive Simrad package of navigational aids and equipment, including an AP35 Autopilot, HS50 Satellite Heading Sensor, CM60 chartmapping system which allows for automatic seabed mapping with 3D-bottom discrimination and chartplotting function.

The radar has ARPA target data output, which means that all targets are displayed on the chart screen as well as any way point information entered into the CM60 plotter being also displayed on the radar screen.

A Simrad AP35 autopilot, which has been developed and and refined over many years is considered to be one of the most reliable and efficient systems available in toady’s competitive market, and is extremely simple to operate whether the vessel is in transit or at work.

A new type of stabiliser outrigger has been fitted, consisting of a steel pipe fitted with a backing bar, and a steel circular plate at one end, and attached to the outboard end of the trawl boom. This is the first time such a method has been used on medium sized trawlers, reducing the rolling in adverse weather, as experienced on sea trials.

The vessel is fitted with a full Caterpillar package, the Letinic’s having a long and satisfactory association with Caterpillar in their fleet, and liking both the availability of spares and service, as well as their proven economy.

A 52kW (70 hp) bow thruster from EBM gives the vessel additional manoeuvrability, and with the combined advantages in speed, stability and economy gained from the distinctive bulbous bow, the vessel provides a superbly stable work platform.

She carries in excess of 20 tonnes of frozen product, with the air blast snap freezer taking the 240 ten kilo boxes down to -40 degrees C.

The crew of four is accommodated within the focs’le in three roomy two-man cabins, which open onto an attractive modern, well appointed mess and galley, with its impressive Denon home entertainment system including two DVD players, and an abundance of stainless steel giving a clean functional feeling, whilst the leather seating and upholstery gives a luxurious finish.

Performing brilliantly on trials, even with choppy weather conditions, the vessel has certainly lived up to the Letinic family’s very best expectations, reaffirming again Adelaide Ship Construction International’s ability to please the most discriminating client’s expectations.