$1.2 million investment in Marine Rescue Port Kembla boost to boating safety

Minister commissions vessels and opens refurbished radio base

Early May saw Minister for Emergency Services, Resilience and Flood Recovery, Steph Cooke, pay a visit to the Marine Rescue Port Kembla unit to commission rescue vessels Port Kembla 20 and Port Kembla 31 and to officially open the refurbished radio base on Hill 60.

The investment by the state Government included $869,000 for the two rescue boats, $273,000 towards the refurbishment of the unit’s iconic radio base on Hill 60, and $55,000 to enhance crew facilities at Port Kembla Harbour.

The radio base on Hill 60 also received generous support from the IMB Bank Community Foundation who donated $70,000, and the Port Kembla Investment Fund who contributed a further $180,000.

“Port Kembla 20 and Port Kembla 31 are two of 38 new rescue vessels funded by a $37.6 million four-year State Government investment to support the vital, lifesaving work of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers,” Ms Cooke said.

“With powerful Suzuki engines and specialist Raymarine suite of maritime navigation equipment, these new rescue boats have the speed and technology to quickly and safely get where they need to when vital seconds count.”

“These outstanding rescue vessels are a valuable investment in the safety of the Illawarra’s large local boating community and its many visiting boaters.”

“The refurbishment of the radio base will ensure clear and reliable radio communications in emergencies, with new crew facilities providing volunteers with an all-weather space to train and from which to coordinate emergency responses.”

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos said the two new rescue boats had

Minister Cooke and Commissioner Tannos present the commissioning certificates to Unit Commander Kevin Bradley. Photo: Phil Campbell.

been purpose-designed and built to meet demanding local operating conditions, and would prove a reassuring presence for locals and visitors alike.

“Boaters in the Illawarra can rest easier knowing that these state of the art craft are at the ready should they run into trouble,” he said.

“Built in NSW by Yamba Welding and Engineering, these new rescue vessels are part of our ongoing commitment to support manufacturing in NSW, as well as the safety of boaters.”

Marine Rescue Port Kembla Unit Commander Kevin Bradley said the new vessels were a significant improvement over the unit’s former boats.

“The upgraded search and rescue technology on board including radar, sonar and FLIR night vision will improve our search capability, which is vital to our mission of saving lives

of weather and sea conditions.” “The Hill 60 radio base refurbishment boasts a unique multi-purpose whale watching and These outstanding rescue vessels are a valuable investment “ in the safety of the Illawarra’s large local boating community and its many visiting boaters“

here on the coastline,” he said.

“With larger windows for better visibility, improved handling and manoeuvrability and greater volunteer comfort, our crews will be able to operate more safely for longer periods and in a wider range observation tower that is open to the public, as well as improved facilities for our dedicated radio operators; while the new crew facilities on the harbour provide a greatly improved training, meeting and coordination space.”