Business North March 2021

46 | Dream becomes a reality for Sean Kelly Deeks Pacific7 is hitting the ground running in the new premises with an exciting new build contract to get started on straight away. MARINE Pacific7 “Moving into a brand spanking new building is a lifetime dream for someone like me that loves fixing things up.” T auranga engineering and marine con- tractor Pacific7 has moved to a brand new, purpose-built premises in a prime industrial waterfront location, setting the busi- ness up to achieve operating economies, both for itself and for its customers. Pacific7 managing director Sean kelly says the new premises have turned a lifetime dream into reality. Now Pacific7’s growing team of engineers each has space for their own workbench, their own welding bay, and the administration staff have a three-storey office block in one corner of the building. “Moving into a brand spanking new building is a lifetime dream for someone like me that loves fixing things up,” he says. In order for Pacific7 to be a bigger success, Sean says the company needs to have a work- shop adjacent to a wharf. “There is no wharf yet but we can build it, and we will build it ourselves, that’s one of the things we do.” The wharf, where Pacific7 will park boats to repair, will go on one side of the building, while the another side is adjacent to an exist- ing hardstand area where Pacific7 will pick up boats up to 350 tonne and place them beside the workshop. “Our systems will save money for all con- cerned, which is a huge feat,” Sean says. Pacific7 is hitting the ground running in the new premises with an exciting new build contract to get started on straight away. A local commercial enterprise requires an all-electric ferry for use on a lake in the Bay of Plenty. Pacific7 has the experience and expertise to build such a craft, being the first in New Zealand to build an electric commercial boat two years ago, as well as recently building the second one. “We are the only people so far to get lithium battery powered boats into survey,” Sean says. “I built the first two on spec, I had to put my where my mouth was and actually build one. Now we are getting a considerable amount of enquiry, particularly from the US.” Electric boats offer low emissions and low running costs, as well as very limited mainte- nance issues associated with the drive line. “And if you’re anywhere near a power source you don’t have to pay for, they are free to run.” The growth of Pacific7’s skilled team of en- gineers, including boat builders, welders, and marine engineers, has also grown the com- pany’s marine engineering capabilities and allowed it to take on an increasing amount of marine engineering projects. One of its largest projects from 2020 was a massive engineering project on the company’s own luxury 100ft workboat Silent Wings. The engine room was modified, the motors taken out, shifts and propellors installed, and the back of the boat replated. “It took us four months to complete with 15 men,” Sean says. “It is a pretty big engineering feat to modify a boat of that size.” 45 Hull Rd, Mt. Maunganui PO Box 701, Tauranga 0274 728 208 bayfluid@xtra.co.nz ll , . i , l i . . HYDRAULICTROUBLESHOOTING • REPAIR • INSTALL • DESIGN Bay Fluid Power