| 73 T T Richard Loader Only the best for the best Underpinning the company’s success was an early decision to capitalise on external design. Q-West Boat Builders MARINE With an impressive list of customers that include Whale Watch Kaikoura, the New Zealand and Victorian Police, NZ Customs, Fullers360, and Auckland Transport, Q-West Boat Builders can be justifiable proud of the reputation it has earned over the last three decades, taking it from the builder of fishing boats, to large scale state-ofthe commercial vessels. The company’s evolution stretches back to the 1960s when it commenced building steel barges on the banks of the Whanganui River. Overtime the business transitioned into building high-speed aluminium catamarans designed by emerging Sydney based designer Incat, later becoming Incat Crowther. When Doug Wild, the driving force behind the business was accidentally killed in the mid ‘80s, boat building went dormant for a number of years, until the business was rekindled by Whanganui Engineering in the early ‘90s to build a commercial fishing boat for a client. Myles Fothergill, an ex-employee and skilled boat builder, was brought into the fold to lead and drive operations, establishing Q-West Boat Builders, which he later bought. Another ex-employee, Colin Mitchell, returned from working abroad in 1994 and the business went through a period of restructure. “With each successful contract, we started to build a name within the industry as a builder of commercial vessels up to 35 metres,” says Colin, now Q-West’s Chief Executive. “We met an extremely talented and capable designer called Nic Dewaal who has a company called Teknicraft. He designed an innovative foil assisted catamaran that no one had ever seen in New Zealand before, and that changed everything for us. Since 1997, Q-West has built over fifty vessels with Teknicraft — everything from 10metre boats right through to 24metre quad engine Foilcats for Whale Watch Kaikoura. We ended up building three diesel powered 35m ferries for Fullers360 in Auckland, working with Incat Crowther.” Colin acknowledges that while you don’t go out to measure yourself by the size of the boats you build, you do end up building bigger and bigger boats because your capability and experience leads you that way. Underpinning the company’s success was an early decision to capitalise on external design capability, rather than employ its own in-house design team, enabling it to build a diverse range of large-scale commercial vessels. “Design diversity and using different designers is a cornerstone of our business. We build commercial fishing boats, patrol boats for the New Zealand and Victorian Police, NZ Customs, pilot boats, mussel harvesters, search and rescue vessels, coast guard boats, ferries, barges and everything in between.” Q-West has a global list of clients from Australia, Bahrein, Samoa, Fiji, Alaska, and at one stage 50% of all boats built were exported. A vessel is currently under construction for the Victorian Police. “They have vessels from VP01 all the way up to VP25 and we have already built VP01 — which is the big boat in Melbourne Harbour — and VP09 which we’re now building a replacement for. These are not insignificant projects. We offer a unique package that’s very attractive to organisations like the Police, including Incat Crowther’s design, our reporting systems, professionalism, quality of vessel, and the price. If you look at our customers, Whale Watch Kaikoura – five boats, Pine Harbour – six boats, Fullers360 – three boats, New Zealand Police – three boats; you don’t come back if you have had a bad experience.” Also under construction are two Incat Crowther designed 32 metre hybrid passenger ferries destined for Auckland Transport. The first ferry is slated for completion April 2025 with the next commissioned by the end of 2025. “One of the reasons that we got these contracts was our past experience building 35 metre ferries to a robust commercial level. The difference with these boats is the more complex propulsion system. Rather than one big diesel engine on each side, on these boats you have four electric motors driving four water jets.” Currently located on the banks of the Whanganui River where it all began, a new purpose-built facility is currently under construction at the old Whanganui Port. “The first phase of that project will include a large concrete pad with a runway that goes out to the river and we have purchased a 380-tonne travel lift for that. That phase should be operational by October. Phase two includes a new set of buildings.” GROUP Bespoke Marine Electronics Solutions Provider.
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