New Spirit of Hervey Bay ready for whale-watching season
Published Monday, 30 June, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Hervey Bay: A $5 million state-of-the-art smart whale-watching boat will be ready to take to the water on July 18th as part of the 2008 whale watching season.
Premier Anna Bligh today unveiled the name for Streamline Catamarans latest boat.
“The new Spirit of Hervey Bay – MV Grant Dorn is the ultimate example of Smart State craftsmanship,” said Ms Bligh, who is attending Community Cabinet at the Hervey Bay.
“The new boat, named for the owner Greg Dorn’s late son, follows on from the Spirit of Hervey Bay which was the first whale-watching tour vessel to feature underwater viewing rooms and the new boat is even more innovative.
“It’s a 24-metre ocean going catamaran with four levels of viewing decks so that passengers can see the whales from every angle.
“There are underwater viewing windows below the waterline in each hull of the boat, as well as specially located TVs including ‘Dolphin Cameras’ which will give tourists unparalleled viewing of whales, dolphins and other marine animals.
“In 2007, 671,000 domestic and 204,000 international visitors travelled to the region. Around 66,000 people, mostly domestic tourists, went whale watching.
“This boat, which will be operated by Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruises, can take 247 passengers on the trip of a lifetime,” the Premier said.
The official whale-watching season begins tomorrow (July 1).
Ms Bligh highlighted the fact that the boat was built using local products and labour as much as possible.
‘Streamline Catamarans is a world-class boat building firm renowned for its use of new technologies including fibre composites,” Ms Bligh said.
“Products manufactured from fibre composite are significantly lighter, stronger and more durable and resistant to corrosion which reduces installation and maintenance costs.
“In Queensland we are seeing fibre composites used in industries as diverse as aerospace, construction, defence, infrastructure, marine, mining and transport.”
The Premier said that Streamline Catamarans owner Wayne Jones had many years experience and had exported his vessels around the world.
“Wayne and like-minded contemporaries are revolutionising boat-building by embracing the latest software packages and innovative, light-weight technologies,” she said.
“It is important that the local industry keeps abreast of the latest technologies not only to stay globally competitive, but also because these lighter boats are much better for the environment and much more efficient for the operators to run,” Wayne added.
“We also appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement the industry receives from the local office of the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry.
“They have a range of programs which address issues like exporting and business development which we know we can access if we need,” Wayne said.
Ms Bligh said marine had been named as a priority industry by the Queensland Government when Tourism and Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle – who is currently in Asia seeking more in-bound tourists - launched an action plan for the sector in March.
“The State’s marine sector has an annual turnover of $2.6 billion and employs more than 11,000 people,” she said.
“Queensland manufacturers, like Streamline Catamarans, also produced two-thirds of all recreational boats exported from Australia – valued at $190 million – in 2005/06.
“We’re now the favoured location for establishing and growing marine businesses,” she said.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Streamline Catamarans: Wayne Jones, 4124 9240 or 0408 385 667
Premier Anna Bligh today unveiled the name for Streamline Catamarans latest boat.
“The new Spirit of Hervey Bay – MV Grant Dorn is the ultimate example of Smart State craftsmanship,” said Ms Bligh, who is attending Community Cabinet at the Hervey Bay.
“The new boat, named for the owner Greg Dorn’s late son, follows on from the Spirit of Hervey Bay which was the first whale-watching tour vessel to feature underwater viewing rooms and the new boat is even more innovative.
“It’s a 24-metre ocean going catamaran with four levels of viewing decks so that passengers can see the whales from every angle.
“There are underwater viewing windows below the waterline in each hull of the boat, as well as specially located TVs including ‘Dolphin Cameras’ which will give tourists unparalleled viewing of whales, dolphins and other marine animals.
“In 2007, 671,000 domestic and 204,000 international visitors travelled to the region. Around 66,000 people, mostly domestic tourists, went whale watching.
“This boat, which will be operated by Spirit of Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruises, can take 247 passengers on the trip of a lifetime,” the Premier said.
The official whale-watching season begins tomorrow (July 1).
Ms Bligh highlighted the fact that the boat was built using local products and labour as much as possible.
‘Streamline Catamarans is a world-class boat building firm renowned for its use of new technologies including fibre composites,” Ms Bligh said.
“Products manufactured from fibre composite are significantly lighter, stronger and more durable and resistant to corrosion which reduces installation and maintenance costs.
“In Queensland we are seeing fibre composites used in industries as diverse as aerospace, construction, defence, infrastructure, marine, mining and transport.”
The Premier said that Streamline Catamarans owner Wayne Jones had many years experience and had exported his vessels around the world.
“Wayne and like-minded contemporaries are revolutionising boat-building by embracing the latest software packages and innovative, light-weight technologies,” she said.
“It is important that the local industry keeps abreast of the latest technologies not only to stay globally competitive, but also because these lighter boats are much better for the environment and much more efficient for the operators to run,” Wayne added.
“We also appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement the industry receives from the local office of the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry.
“They have a range of programs which address issues like exporting and business development which we know we can access if we need,” Wayne said.
Ms Bligh said marine had been named as a priority industry by the Queensland Government when Tourism and Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle – who is currently in Asia seeking more in-bound tourists - launched an action plan for the sector in March.
“The State’s marine sector has an annual turnover of $2.6 billion and employs more than 11,000 people,” she said.
“Queensland manufacturers, like Streamline Catamarans, also produced two-thirds of all recreational boats exported from Australia – valued at $190 million – in 2005/06.
“We’re now the favoured location for establishing and growing marine businesses,” she said.
Media contact: Minister’s Office 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Streamline Catamarans: Wayne Jones, 4124 9240 or 0408 385 667