MAKING WAVES Illawarra News
$565,000 vessel improves search capability Port Kembla Naiad a ‘valuable investment’ in Illawarra boaters’ safety.
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rews from MR Port Kembla would be able to respond faster to an emergency on the water following the delivery of their new $565,000 rescue vessel, Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said. Mr Elliott said the 10m Naiad, Port Kembla 31, had arrived at its new home on Port Kembla Harbour in mid-July. “Port Kembla 31 is one 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,” he said. “This outstanding rescue vessel is a valuable investment in the safety of the Illawarra’s large local boating community and its many visiting boaters. As well as operating within the harbour, the boat can quickly
deploy up to 30nm out to sea.” Commissioner Stacey Tannos said the boat, purpose-designed and built to meet demanding local operating conditions, would prove a reassuring presence for locals and visitors alike. “Boaters in the Illawarra can rest easier knowing that this state of the art craft is at the ready should they run into trouble,” he said. “Built by Yamba Welding & Engineering, it is part of our ongoing commitment to support manufacturing in NSW, as well as the safety of boaters.” Unit Commander Kevin Bradley thanked the local community for its generous support for the unit’s energetic fundraising to contribute 20 per cent of the cost of the new vessel. He said the vessel was a significant improvement over the unit’s former catamaran, PK 30,
Port Kembla 31 is lowered into the water for delivery to the unit.
which members recently stripped of its livery ahead of its sale. He said PK 30 had served the unit well on numerous missions. “The upgraded search and rescue technology on PK 31, including radar, sonar and FLIR night vision, will improve our search
capability,” he said. “With a greater rear deck area, 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 of weather and sea conditions.”
‘New’ boat fills gap as old workhorse retires
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ith our brand new vessel due for delivery around the end of the year, MR Kioloa crews will be plying our local waterways on a redeployed vessel from the Mid North Coast over the next few months. Unit Commander Peter White, Len Gallina and Erik Adriaanse travelled to MR Port Macquarie to take delivery of the northern unit’s superceded Cobia. This loan vessel will take over rescue duties at Kioloa following the sale of our old Cobia workhorse, which regrettably required some major work and in the end proved uneconomical to repair. Our temporary vessel is another 6.25m model. Although the centre console version lacks the weather protection of our old boat, our crew members have been impressed by its speed and stability.
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It is a welcome addition to our rescue capabilities, already responding to two emergencies. The more recent incident saw two boaters thrown from their vessel near Racecourse Beach, north of Kioloa, and hit by the motor as the boat spun in circles on the water. Our crew arrived on scene to find both boaters had made it to the beach and were receiving first aid from onlookers while waiting for a NSW Ambulance to arrive. One of the boaters escaped with bad bruising but his mate was not so lucky, receiving deep lacerations to his leg from the propeller. He was airlifted by the Toll rescue helicopter to Wollongong hospital. Their boat eventually ran aground on the beach. As well as not having a kill switch on their motor, neither man was wearing a lifejacket, which almost proved disastrous as the badly
Len Gallin and Erik Adriaanse on board the former MR Port Macquarie vessel on loan to MR Kioloa until its new boat arrives.
injured man was unable to swim and his friend struggled to keep him afloat until they got to the beach. Although we were unable to beach our boat to assist at this point, the next morning Peter and
Len helped the boat’s owner to recover it from the beach using the unit’s tractor - a service we often provide to boaters bogged on our local ramp. Peter White
