The state-of-the-art, 25-metre, all-aluminium vessel has been built for the three siblings, Ryan, Todd and Hayley Abbott, still only in their 20s, to replace their current ageing longliner the Fisco 1.

The Abbotts have named the big catamaran the D&D, in honour of their grandparents Dot and Des Creighton, with Des being one of the fishing industry pioneers of Narooma.

Todd Abbott speaking from on board the vessel now moored at Port Adelaide said the launch on October 25 went smoothly, with a truck pulling the vessel a short distance of about 200 to 300 metres from the Calibre Boats factory down to the water.

The cutting where the company launches its boats did have to be widened to allow for the big 10-metre-wide catamaran to be be launched.

“It went off without a hitch,” he said. 

The vessel was now being fitted out with safety gear, electronics and living areas so that it could sailed from Adelaide to Narooma, a trip expected to take two or three days.

Todd Abbott said a boat surveyor was due to visit by the end of the week and approve it for the sail home and he and his brother Ryan were keen to the vessel back to Narooma as soon as possible, subject to the weather being suitable.

“We’re keen to get back as soon as we get the survey approved and the weather looks okay,” he said.

Work will continue to the vessel alongside the Narooma town wharf, fitting out the refrigeration and fish rooms, which was expected to take another couple of months.

The new vessel will allow the Abbott fishing operation to travel much further and exploit all the eastern tuna fishery all the way from the tip of Cape York around Tasmania down to the Victoria South Australia border and out to Lord Howe Island.