Business North September 2020

72 | Volume 19 | Issue 3 businessnorth SEAFOOD INDUSTRY » Penwarden Holdings Enjoying a lifetime of fishing for scampi Penwarden Holding’s new Scampi trawler, the 23.9m Karearea, operating off New Zealand’s south coast. Kelly Deeks A lifetime of fishing for second generation scampi fishers Sam and Kristie Penwarden has the brother and sister in good stead to manage their growing family operation, Penwarden Holdings. “We’ve learned the business via osmosis,” Kristie says. “I was very young when dad (Neil Penwarden) got his first vessel, and I personally don’t have a memory that doesn’t involve fishing.” In the late 1970s, New Zealand-born Neil and his wife Lyn Penwarden established a successful prawn fishing operation in the Queensland prawn fishery. That first vessel was the 18 metre, wooden hulled Chromatt, which operated in the northern prawn fishery in the Torres Straits, and QLD East Coast, as well as the Gulf of Carpentaria. Neil and the family relocated to New Zealand in 1990 when the scampi industry here was still in its early days. He purchased the Bilyara, (the Aboriginal word for wedge tailed eagle) a 19.8m fishing trawler, and established the Sea Eagle brand of Scampi, which is now purchased by long term customers in Japan, China, Australia, US, Canada, Europe, and a small amount by the domestic market. “We take great pride in our product, and we can,” Kristie says. “Our crew are very focused on ensur- ing we have the best quality, premium product for our markets and customers.” Due to the nature of scampi, and the expecta- tions of Penwarden Holdings’ markets, quality control and packing is essential. “Along with its delicate taste, scampi is an attractive product, with striking glossy colour contrasts and horns that our customers love,”Sam says. “Key to maintaining this premium quality is the accuracy of grading, and packing in a manner that does not damage the scampi and which allows the end user to remove it from a frozen pack without damaging the limbs. “This is not a process that can be automated, so we are reliant on the efforts of our crew to deliver this labour intensive, essential part of the process. They do a fantastic job and take great pride in the product they produce,” says Sam. About a year ago, Penwarden Holdings became the owner of New Zealand’s only purpose-designed Scampi trawler, the 23.9m Karearea (the Maori word for the New Zealand falcon). Designed by Oceantech and built by Adelaide- based MG Engineering, Karearea is now operating successfully in the cold water Scampi fields off New Zealand’s south coast. “Sam is an engineer by trade and he very much drove the design and build project,” Kristie says. “Its arrangement has been based on the Bilyara because she is such a great vessel. “The commonality of the vessels also allows our crew to efficiently switch between the two.” Karearea is obviously larger, so she can process more scampi and be at sea longer, as it takes four days to sail to the southern fishing grounds from Dunedin. “Oceantech was fantastic to work with when designing the vessel,” Sam says. “We knew what we wanted from the start, and they did a very good translating that on to paper, and into the 3D model, and ultimately to the build.” Penwarden Holdings went to great lengths to use New Zealand-based suppliers where pos- sible. Survitec New Zealand provided the vessel’s safety equipment, General Marine Services New Zealand supplied its sea water pump, engine room ventilation fans, fire dampers and Sailor C s3/40 water maker systems, and Dunedin-based Navcom Electronics handled the marine electronics including radar, depth sounder, radios, sonar, and satellite communications. Power Equipment New Zealand supplied the Gear box, main shaft and propeller, and TERACAT (NZ) provided significant technical support for the provi- sion of the main engine and auxiliaries. “As part of our commitment to our primary New Zealand service providers, we took the unusual approach to assemble a team that would work remotely to complete essential tasks on the vessel. “Probably the most demanding of these was the mechanical fit-out of the engine room completed by Marine and Industrial Rebuilds (Whangarei), with whom we have worked with for some time on the Bilyara. “This incredible support from our New Zealand suppliers was instrumental in the construction of the Karearea.” Prior to her maiden fishing trip, extensive ready- ing works were completed on Karearea, drawing on the wide range of skills available in Whangarei. Ship Repair NZ worked on fabrication, mechanical fitting, and painting, Marine and Industrial Rebuilds handled the mechanical fitout and fabrication, Marine and Industrial Electrical completed electrical works, and NorthSand completed shipwright works. Like all exporters, Covid-19 created challenges for Penwarden Holdings, however its recovery is now on track. “We are feeling very positive,” Krisite says. “Our vessels are out fishing, and our crew are all rapt to be back.” 10 Fraser Street, Whangarei | / 0064 9 430 8485 0274 913 800 | info@norsand.co.nz | www.norsand.co.nz All services are available on site / traditional and composite boat builders, painters, riggers, engineers, welders and general labourers. Mechanical and electrical services. • OSMOSIS REPAIRS, HULL PLANNING AND RE-GLASSING • MULTIHULL & MONOHULLS UP TO 115 TONS • QUALITY MARINE JOINERY • FULL SHIPWRIGHT SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE TO TIMBER, FIBREGLASS AND STEEL VESSELS NORSAND BOATYARD IS PROUD TO BE INVOLVED WITH PENWARDEN HOLDINGS Repairs & Refit Design & Planning Service & Maintenance Manufacture & Installation SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AND SERVICE marineelectric.co.nz +64 9 430 8061 mie@marineelectric.co.nz