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Meet the Fleet

Meet the Fleet

TasPorts' Burnie-based fleet consists of one pilot launch, two tugs, and a workboat capable of undertaking a variety of tasks.

Burnie is one of four major ports located around Tasmania where TasPorts provides pilotage and harbour towage services.

TasPorts also provides on-water lines services at the Port of Burnie.

Our marine crews located in north-western Tasmania service Burnie and Devonport. TasPorts has regulatory responsibilities at Port Latta and we provide pilot services, but we do not operate or own the infrastructure.

For more detailed information about vessel specifications, visit our TasPorts Fleet page.

Hellyer

Pilot Launch Hellyer has a top speed of 27 knots. With a draft of just 1.4 metres and carbon fibre frames, she can handle conditions in the north-west with ease.

A key safety feature is the self-righting capability of the purpose-built vessel. In the event of capsizing, she will automatically return to an upright position.

Hellyer also features a state-of-the-art infrared camera to assist with identification of smaller vessels or people in the water in the event of man overboard.

The pilot boat is named after explorer and surveyor Henry Hellyer, one of the first officers of the Van Diemen's Land Company and the principal explorer of north-western Tasmania.

Vessel Specs

Korimul

Built in 1982, the Korimul is one of the oldest tugs in the TasPorts fleet.

Despite her age, she is fitted with an azimuthing stern drive (ASD) that is now commonplace on modern tugs.

This form of propulsion, coupled with an overall length of 32 metres and a bollard pull of 48 tonnes makes her a versatile tug for both in harbour and open water operations.

Prior to service with TasPorts, the Korimul was once greeted by thousands of people, as she accompanied the Queen Mary 2 through the heads at Sydney in 2007.

Vessel Specs

Watagan

The Watagan, built in 1986, is a great companion to the Korimul, and both were in service together at Port Botany in the mid-2000s.

At 32 metres in length, with a bollard pull of 47 tonnes, the matched pair together service the largest vessels entering the Port of Burnie.

Originally the Watagan was named the Shell Cove but, after a flurry of activity in towage company ownership in the mid-1990s, the tug was renamed.

Tugs like the Watagan and the Korimul are essential at ports to manoeuvre ships into their respective berths.

Vessel Specs

Emu Bay

The Emu Bay's primary role at the Port of Burnie is as a lines boat.

Lines boats support the critical task of mooring a vessel.

The Emu Bay is also used as a general workboat, able to perform a variety of operations including wharf maintenance and oil spill response.

She has a bollard pull capacity of approximately 1.9 tonnes, is 8.69 metres in length and has a free-run speed of nine knots.

Meet the rest of our fleet