A new vessel for Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes is now in active service after being put through its paces in a sea trial and training for senior crew and volunteers.
The new 6.3m walk-through console Naiad boat, Tuggerah Lakes 21 (TL 21), is powered by twin Suzuki 115hp outboard engines and is capable of reaching speeds of 38 knots.
Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes Unit Commander Bob Sutton and senior crew members were thoroughly shown how to operate TL 21 before the boat was delivered to its new permanent home at Toukley on May 18.
Sutton said Marine Rescue volunteers at the Tuggerah Lakes unit were excited about adding the new vessel to the fleet.
“The new Naiad has performed exceptionally this afternoon, it has done a great job,” he said.
“It’s going to replace a 10-year-old vessel, a Cobia that we’ve had, so technology is a big thing, and this will be certainly well received by our members and also the community.
“Upgraded navionics, reliability, safety for our members plus being able to get to whatever jobs we need to do in a faster manner and then being able to get people back to safety.”
Since October 2022, volunteers at Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes have completed 53 rescue missions including five emergency responses.
Sutton said the new TL 21 was a versatile vessel with wide-ranging capability.
“Being a rescue vessel, it’s not very prescriptive about what sort of work you’ll be doing, but we’ll be doing the routine tows where vessels break down to medical emergencies, people in the water, kayakers,” he said.
“These things happen during daylight and also at night so our members are always ready to respond and this vessel will certainly help in that respect.
“We get a variety of craft and you’ve got to be able to respond to all sorts of issues.
“The Tuggerah Lakes system is over 80sqkm of the three lakes and the rivers and we’ve got to be able to reach all those areas and this new vessel will be able to get into shallower water than our current vessel, which is berthed down at The Entrance.”
TL 21 is fitted with a full Raymarine suite of maritime navigation equipment.
It also comes with a quick catch system on the trailer which makes launch and retrieval safer and easier by driving the boat straight on to the trailer; it latches directly on to the trailer once it is in position and it can be driven away.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said it was important the service turned over its vessels regularly.
“What’s really great when we turn over our vessels is watching the unit members get out there, get engaged with the new vessel, train and practise so that when the call comes, our crews are skilled up and can go and render that assistance,” he said.
“It’s important for both the volunteers, and the boaters that we support, that the vessels they have are fit for purpose and can render assistance when assistance is needed.”
TL 21 is one of 38 new rescue boats in Marine Rescue’s fleet modernisation program, funded by the NSW Government’s $37.6M investment in 2019 to support the vital, lifesaving work of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers.
Sue Murray