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In developing an “ocean growing system”
for the handling and containment of abalone at sea, the successful
and proven aspects of the aquaculture process such as tanking, water
flow and stock management have simply been realigned into a more
cost effective and management efficient operation. The “ocean
growing system” also minimises the risks of poor water quality, high
water temperature and mechanical failure to within acceptable
levels. The Destiny Queen
is the first vessel to ever be fitted with an “ocean growing system”
for abalone, and is unique to South Australia. The actual maze
tanking technology was developed by South Australian abalone farms,
and has proved very successful in its operations. Its incorporation
to the Destiny Queen has proved to be innovative to the
industry.
The Destiny Queen is by
definition a fully operational international cargo vessel, and the
abalone held within her tanks are defined as her new cargo. Her new
role, locating her to the waters off Port Lincoln in South Australia
brings her to a new and exciting period of her long career.
Built in 1984 in Spain, Destiny
Queen operates under International survey Classification by
Bureau Veritas. Modification and conversion of the vessel to its
role as a factory/grow-out vessel has not been structural, with the
emphasis on maintaining the vessel’s status as a fully operational
cargo vessel. The vessel’s cargo holds have been fitted with one
thousand industrial-strength black plastic maze tanks, arranged in
tiered racks. Between each tier is a walkway, allowing access to all
tanks for feeding, stock maintenance and harvesting. An export
accredited processing room, freezer and dryer has been fitted to the
top hatch deck for the processing and packaging of abalone for
export. Access to the holds is located amidships between the two
cargo hatches.
Water intake is via pumps located
amidships, drawing water from alongside the vessel and pumping water
to both holds simultaneously at the hatch deck. After flowing
through the grow-out tanks, the water is collected in settlement
tanks located beneath the cargo holds, from where it is discharged
from the vessel.
A ten-metre aluminum tender vessel is
located on the aft weather deck, to facilitate the transfer of
stores, personnel and harvest between port and the vessel.
Accommodation aboard the vessel is
extremely comfortable with both the ships marine and engineering
crew, and the husbandry crew, being berthed in private cabins with
ensuite facilities.
Waste water and sewerage are treated
by the vessel’s own waste treatment plant, which converts them to
clean water prior to discharge.
The service port for the vessel is
Port Lincoln, which means that all ships supplies such as fuel, ship
stores, and crew requirements are taken to the vessel by tender
craft being loaded at Port Lincoln.
Port Lincoln is designated the
vessels “Swing Port”, which is the Port where the crew are
officially signed on and off the ship.
The Destiny Queen is designed
to stay at sea for extended periods of time. It has its own fresh
water plant that can produce up to twelve tons (12-ton) of fresh
water per day, generates its own power, plus has its own engineering
and mechanical workshops. In summary the vessel is self sufficient
for extended periods of time, which combined with its fully
qualified marine crew, make it capable of dealing with mechanical
failure and other sea operating problems.
After taking aboard abalone stock, it
is not possible for the vessel to return to Port due to pollution
and poor water quality associated with local Ports. This requires
that the vessel must be serviced from Port Lincoln with consumables,
perishables and crew.
More about: 
E-mail:
inquiry@destinyexports.com.au |
