Coastal communities in the Mid-West will have greater protection at sea with a new high-tech marine rescue vessel based in Geraldton.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson today presented an eight metre Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) to Marine Rescue Geraldton to give volunteers greater capability in the region.
The boat has been named Mimosa after the star that forms an axis of the Southern Cross constellation.
One of the biggest advantages of the new vessel is that it can be taken to various sites via trailer, allowing it to be launched closer to incidents to reduce response times.
The boat and trailer cost $494,000, with funding coming from the Emergency Services Levy.
Marine Rescue Geraldton now has two response vessels with Mimosa joining the group's other boat, the 10m-long Nashira, which is also named after a giant star.
Mimosa was constructed by local manufacturer Dongara Marine.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Western Australians have a great love for the sea and it is vitally important that those who protect us on the water have access to the best equipment and resources available.
"The new vessel will give our hard-working emergency service volunteers the opportunity to get help to those who need it much faster and that can be critical in any rescue.
"Communities up and down the Mid-West coast have a strong relationship with the water and marine rescue volunteers based in Geraldton now have two vessels to help keep those communities safe."
