Boost for Marine Rescue NSW

Member for North Shore Jillian Skinner has welcomed a $725,000 investment in boating safety on Sydney Harbour with the launch of a $660,000 rescue vessel and the opening of a new $65,000 pontoon.

Ms Skinner, who is the Marine Rescue Middle Harbour Unit Patron, officially opened the new floating pontoon before commissioning Middle Harbour 30, the 38ft Steber offshore rescue vessel based at The Spit.

"Our harbour is one of the most spectacular in the world but it can be a dangerous place and it’s important volunteers have access to state-of-the-art rescue vessels to assist those who get into trouble on the water," Mrs Skinner said.

"Middle Harbour 30 is a tremendous asset for the members of Marine Rescue Middle Harbour and the large boating community gathered around Sydney Harbour.

"It is ideally suited for a rapid response to boating emergencies not only on the harbour but also up to 30 nautical miles offshore beyond the Heads [where more and more anglers are venturing these days].

"The NSW Government is proud to support our volunteers, who are one of this state’s greatest assets. The skilled and experienced members of the Middle Harbour unit give their time unstintingly to assist boaters in trouble and save lives on the water.

"These grants have proved of great value in helping provide improved community infrastructure for the people of NSW.

"This new pontoon provides safer and more convenient access to and from Middle Harbour 30 for rescue crew members.

"Importantly, it also enables crews to more easily transfer victims of boating emergencies, especially those who are ill or have suffered an injury, to Ambulance paramedics for treatment or transport to hospital."

NSW Deputy Commissioner Dean Storey said Middle Harbour 30 was an important part of Marine Rescue’s strategic safety net of rescue vessels covering the NSW coastline and inland on the Alpine Lakes and the Murray River at Moama.

"It is one of 36 new and refurbished vessels delivered to date at a cost of more than $10 million as part of our ongoing project to upgrade our rescue fleet through the financial support of the NSW Government and the boating community," he said.

Unit Commander Tony Whybrow said the purpose-built rescue vessel was reliable, highly-manoeuvrable, safe and stable.

"It is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation, marine radios, Automatic Identification System and thermal imaging cameras, along with a cardiac defibrillator and oxygen therapy," he said.

"This first -id equipment is some of the most valuable gear on board, as we saw when crews from Middle Harbour and our neighbours at Marine Rescue Port Jackson helped save the life of a man who had suffered a heart attack while sailing with friends on the Harbour."

Deputy Commissioner Storey reminded boaters to always wear a lifejacket when on board and to Log On and Off with their local Marine Rescue radio base whenever they were on the water. To find your local base, visit