Christening of new FPA pilot boat

2/7/93

Transport Minister Eric Charlton's wife, Evette, briefly stole the limelight from her husband today to christen a new pilot boat for the Fremantle Port Authority.

In a traditional-style ceremony, Mrs Charlton duly named the vessel 'FP Osprey' with a champagne bottle.

The 17-metre vessel is only the second of its kind in the world to be built for pilot duties.  It can also be used for survey work.

Worth more than $800,000, the FP Osprey is a twin-hull catamaran design that has a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots.

Its air-lubricated hull contributes to the high operating speed by reducing resistance.

The vessel was built by Image Boat Builders of Jandakot to a design by Queensland companies Stolkraft and John Lund Marine Design.

At the ceremony, Mr Charlton told shipping industry guests the design was selected for its high speed capability and lower operating costs.

He said FP Osprey would join the FPA's existing heavy weather pilot boat, the Paddy Troy, and would be an integral part of the Authority's rationalised multi-purpose small craft fleet which would reduce from five to three vessels by the end of the year.

"It is this type of rationalisation that I am keen to pursue with individual port authorities around the State as a further progression of waterfront efficiencies and operational reforms," Mr Charlton said.

"Ports are the State's vehicle for trade and we need to encourage them to operate efficiently and in a low-cost way in order to encourage greater throughput of exports.

"The Fremantle Port Authority has already undergone a commercial restructure that saw staff numbers reduced by almost 37 per cent. We have seen improvements in productivity, efficiency and reliability, and I want this trend continued.

"To this end I have asked the FPA to conduct an internal services review with the aim of eliminating those types of services which do not add value to the customer.

"I am confident this will result in a further fine tuning of staff numbers and an even more focused and commercially competitive organisation."

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333