She was built under yard no B675/01 by Stocznia im Komuny Paryskiej, Gdynia, for Przedsiebiorstwo Polowow Dalekomorskich I Uslug Rybackich “Odra”as a stern trawler- fish-processing vessel.
1991Laid down.
The Polish interest defaulted on the contract, and when launched and under which name is still a mystery.
1991 Completed.
Tonnage 2.360 gross, 708 net, 1157 dwt, dim. 79 o.a. x 14.62 x 5.25m. (draught).
Two Sulzer Oil reduction engines, geared to a single shaft, 2.366 bhp., speed 16 knots.
She was purchased by New Zealand interest, and a provisional certificate of registry was issued on 12 July 1994, with owner given: Korrigane Shipping Ltd., Guernsey, chartered by Deep Sea Seafood Ltd., Dunedin (New Zealand Sea Harvest Ltd.)
Her formal register was issued on 10 August 1994.
She sailed from Gdynia to Hull for dry-docking, and then via Panama Canal and Papeete to Lyttelton, New Zealand where she arrived on 30 October 1994. When she got her name DORADA is also not clear, when she arrived in New Zealand she carried that name.
Tonnage is then given as 2.630 gross, 708 net, and 1.000 dwt., dim. 76.41 x 14.60 x 5.25m. (draught).
Used for fishing with a crew of 50 men from that port, mostly for Hoki (New Zealand well-known fish) when in season.
26 Nov. 1994, mortgaged to a New Zealand finance house, and it looks that at that time the Korrigane Shipping Ltd. ceases.
She got at that time the funnel marking, and fished under arrangement with Vela Fishing Ltd., of Lyttelton and Hamilton.
Late 1995 the vessel had accrued a large list of creditors, but in a meeting arranged by the creditors in December 1995, she was allowed to sail for an other trip, in the hope that the catch value would offset debts.
When returning from her fishing trip in Lyttelton on 13 February 1996, she was arrested and placed in the custody of the High Court of New Zealand at Christchurch. And McKay Shipping Ltd. acts as the protective agent for the mortgagor.
She stayed alongside her berth in Lyttelton, only a watchman on board, until 1997 when she was inspected by Byron Marine Ltd., a company registered and owned in the Falkland Islands.
At noon on 15 August 1997, she was delivered to her new owners the Dorada Marine Ltd., Stanley, Falkland Islands, a Byron subsidiary.
Stark Bross Ltd then refitted her from a fishing vessel in a fishery patrol/research vessel.
20 August work commenced, she was dry-docked and painted, and after removing all fish processing and freezing equipment and the fish meal plant, rebuilding began. Her factory deck was converted in modern dry and wet laboratories. Her accommodation for 50 men, mostly in double berths was upgraded to a higher standard for a maximum of 26 men including scientists and cadets.
Her communication equipment was upgraded. She carries now two inflatable boats used for boarding other ships at the high seas for checks on their catches and logbooks.
On Sunday 30 November from 07.30 until 18.00, she made her trials.
Her refit was completed on 12 December, the project cost around NZ $2 million and she was bought for about NZ$ 6 million.
The registry port was changed to Stanley. Tonnage is now given as 2.360 gross, 709 net, and 1.185 dwt. Her length is now 76.60m.
She sailed on Saturday 13 December 1997 at 09.45 hours after 670 days at Lyttelton for her new roll to the Falkland Islands.
She is now leased by the Falkland Islands Fisher Patrol, for the protection of the Falkland Island Conservation Zone, which was created in 1986, the zone covers 34.000 square kilometers in a 320-kilometer radius around the island. It is noted for stocks of ilex squid, cod and hake.
Falkland Islands officials are serious about defending the zone.
In 2000 the DORADA together with Betts fired on HER CHING 101, a Taiwanese squid jigger poaching inside the boundary, eventually bringing the ship in to port after firing upon the vessel causing damage to its bow. After arrival in port, she faced fines and legal charges.
2007 Still in service at the Falkland Islands.
March 2008 sold to Esvagt AS, Esbjerg, Denmark and renamed ESTVAGT BETA.
2022 Same owner, managed by owners, IMO No 8817746.
Falkland Islands 2002 22p sg?, scott? 2007 3p sg?, Scott? (the vessel in the foreground is the stern trawler HOLBERG.)
Mostly copied from Marine News 1998/729 and written by N.J.Kirby and Maurice J Napier.
Lloyds 1995 and 2002. Dan Rodlie.