Marine Rescue Shellharbour’s sole vessel, Shellharbour 30 is rescue ready for the summer season on the Illawarra Coast after undergoing a major refurbishment.
Marine Rescue NSW Senior Manager Fleet Kelvin Parkin said Marine Rescue NSW State Headquarters invested in two new 300 horsepower Suzuki engines for Shellharbour 30 while the unit’s fundraising efforts allowed for a number of other improvements to the vessel.
“They’ve replaced the fenders (foam filled sides), the fender covers, they’ve done all the livery on the vessel, she’s looking really nice,” he said.
Mr Parkin also said that the vessel underwent a full electronic navigation suite upgrade.
“Internally, they have refitted the electronic systems so they’ve got new Axiom internal multi-function display systems,” he said.
Mr Parkin thanked the community for supporting the unit’s fundraising efforts, which enabled the refurbishment works alongside the engine replacements.
“The crew here have done an amazing job, they’ve spent a lot of money which has been fundraised through the community and there has been a lot of work for the team to get to this stage.
“We’ve (Marine Rescue NSW) got another really good asset that’s been refurbished. The hull’s in great condition and the boat’s ready to serve the community. They’ve done a great job in preparing the boat for the upcoming season,” he said.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said Shellharbour 30 is berthed in a prominent positon at Shellharbour Marina.
“It is a vital reminder to the community that our rescue service is available 24/7 should they need it.
“The strategic positioning of the vessel at Shellharbour Marina provides our volunteer crews with quick access to deploy in the event of an emergency,” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.