Commissioning Ceremony for Brazilian Tuna Boat
On November 3, 2007 over 400 invited guests visited the fishing port at Itajai-Santa Catarina in the South of Brazil to celebrate the new tuna boat F/V Alalunga VII. Hosted by the vessel’s owner Giovanne Perdavalle, the event was attended by several important local and government officials. Also in attendance were representatives of Cummins Marine and the local Cummins dealer Motomac who supplied the Alalunga’s main engine, a 640 hp Cummins KTA19-M3. The steel vessel, measuring 32 by 8.2 meters with a molded depth of 4.2 meters, can carry 180 tons of fish. Tankage includes 45.5 cubic meters of fuel and 35 cubic meters of fresh water. The vessel is also fitted with two Cummins-powered 99 kW generators. The Alalunga VII joins six other Cummins-powered vessels in the Perdavalle fleet. The new boat was built at the Perdavalle-owned Mediterraneo Shipyard in Itajai.Cummins Marine Business Manager for Mexico and South America, Waldemar Marchetti reports that business is brisk for Sergio Kulzer, Santa Catarina branch manager for Motomac with shipyards in the area continuing with the fishing vessel business while finding increasing interest from operators of off shore support and passenger vessels.