A new $400,000 Western Australian-built rescue vessel has been delivered to Marine Rescue Shark Bay to help response times and enable better access along the Gascoyne coast.
The purpose-built Cape Rose, designed in consultation with the Shark Bay volunteers, is fitted with state-of-the-art marine electronics including an underwater camera to assist with searches.
The eight-metre vessel was constructed by Port Denison-based builder Dongara Marine and was the WA company's first boat built under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services' Marine Rescue vessel building contract.
The rigid-hulled inflatable boat can be transported by road and launched at beaches, remote locations and nearby waterways to reduce response times and assist during emergencies.
Funded by the Emergency Services Levy, the new vessel complements the group's primary response vessel - the Tamala Rose.
The Cape Rose replaces Marine Rescue Shark Bay's existing secondary response vessel, which had serviced the WA coastline for more than 20 years both with the group and previously with WA Water Police.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:
"This new quick-response vessel, which has been designed with input from the local volunteers, will help Marine Rescue Shark Bay volunteers better serve their community and visitors.
"It is great to see how the McGowan Government's $19.5 million record investment in our State's Marine Rescue Service is bearing fruit with locally built vessels being rolled out across the State.
"By working with our volunteers and local businesses, we are building vessels that benefit our local economies and help our communities with purpose-built vessels that meet everyone's needs."
