It was a proud day for Ballina’s maritime and manufacturing industries, with the official launch of the newest vessel to join the local fishing fleet.

Worth well over half a million dollars, the sleek twin-hull aluminium beauty called JJ was built locally by Wollongbar-based by boat-builder Sailfish for local fishing industry identity John Joblin of JJ’s Seafood.

After six months of construction at Sailfish Catamaran’s Wollongbar factory, the 5-tonne vessel began its first journey this morning.

It was carefully loaded onto a semi-trailer and driven slowly down the highway from Alstonville to the West Ballina Slipway.  

As the silver hull and JJ’s massive 250 horsepower twin engines gleamed in the sun, it was an impressive sight for Ballina commuters as they made their way to work.

Once safely at the slipway, a crane operator attached giant straps under the hull as family, friends and workers looked on. 

With painstaking care, the JJ was lifted from the truck, suspended high in the air, and then lowered into Emigrant Creek.

It touched the water so gently it barely made a ripple –  prompting a collective sigh of relief from the crowd.

Built for Local Waters

“This is the third one we’ve built for John,” Sailfish director Darren Foster said. 

It’s purpose-built for spanner crabbing –  the same commercial hull we build for maritime departments and rescue services, but with the decks and cabin adapted for this fishery.

“A recreational version starts from around $600,000, but John’s vessel is well beyond that, given the custom commercial fit-out.”

For Sailfish Catamarans, the launch was just as significant. 

The company employs 24 staff at its Russelton Industrial Estate facility, producing 20–22 boats a year, and has twice won Australia’s Boat of the Year.

Over its 32 years in business, Sailfish has delivered more than 160 commercial vessels –  not only to local and national clients such as rescue services and maritime agencies, but also to international buyers in Russia, Japan, the USA and Papua New Guinea.

“It’s a proud day for us too,” Mr Foster said.

A Lifetime Achievement

Mr Joblin, who has fished the local coast since his mid-20s, said the new vessel which will work the waters from Evans Head to Byron Bay would likely see him through to retirement.

Although his wife Julie and daughter Claire, who were there for the launch, wasn’t so sure.

“I don’t think Dad will ever be ready to retire – he’s obsessed,” Claire said.

“But this boat really is a lifetime achievement for him.”

Mr Joblin captained the JJ for a short test run along the Richmond today ahead of a traditional “christening” with family members planned for tomorrow. 

It will then stay in dock awaiting exhausting inspections by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority next week before entering service.