Blenheim boats Nauru bound

Two boats which look more like tanks than sea-faring craft are rolling off the production line at Blenheim engineering company, Cuddon, bound for the tropical Pacific island of Nauru.

Cuddon production manager Les Dick said the company had a contract to build two boats, called Sea Mules, for Gestax, a company that dealt in the phosphate industry.

"It [a Sea Mule] is not a boat boat, it's a work boat for a specific purpose.

"It's pretty simplistic."

The 14m vessels, each with a 20 tonne carrying capacity, would be used to take freight from container ships to Nauru because the island had no deep-sea port.

The hull of each boat was made with 6mm mild steel plate and the helm made from aluminium to save weight, Mr Dick said.

Each vessel had to weigh less than 20 tonnes so they could be lifted from the water.

Structural work on the first ship took about four months and was completed a week ahead of schedule. The second ship, still being put together, was well ahead of time.

Because the ships were computer designed, they fitted together well "like a big kit-set dinosaur", he said.

"We've saved a lot wastage."

The first ship would be transported to a local firm for painting, before it was fitted in Picton. Both boats would be shipped to Australia in late January before making the journey to Nauru.

- The Marlborough Express