Commissioning new offshore Rescue Vessel for Marine Rescue Shoalhaven

by Ken McManus on 26 Aug 2011 A new Steber 38 rescue vessel for Marine Rescue Shoalhaven will be commissioned at 1:00pm on Sunday 28 August 2011 at the Greenwell Point Bowling Club.

The new vessel, Marine Rescue Shoalhaven 30, will also carry the name A.M. McGilvray II, after the founder of the original volunteer marine rescue organisation in the area in the 1970’s.

Marine Rescue NSW has embarked on a demanding replacement program for an ageing fleet of more than 70 craft to provide the NSW recreational boating community with a fleet of modern, fast response rescue vessels and ensure that Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have the right equipment for rescue work.

A.M. McGilvray II is equipped with state-of-the-art Raymarine GPS, radar and FLIR night vision, Icom marine radio electronics, Class A Furuno AIS (Automatic Identification System) and advanced first aid equipment including cardiac defibrillator and oxygen therapy.

A.M. McGilvray II is one of four Steber 38s to be built for Marine Rescue NSW in 2011 and the second to be positioned on the NSW South Coast. A.M. McGilvray II will be stationed at Shoalhaven on the NSW mid South Coast as part of a strategically located safety net of vessels covering the entire NSW coastline.

Guests attending the commissioning ceremony will include:
The Hon. Shelley Hancock MP, Speaker, Member for South Coast, representing The Hon Michael Gallagher MLC, Minister for Police and Emergency Services;
Mr. Gareth Ward MP, Member for Kiama;
Mrs. Joanna Gash MP, Member for Gilmore;
Mr. Paul Green, Mayor, Shoalhaven City Council;
Mr. James Glissan QC, Chairman of the Board, Marine Rescue NSW;
Mr. Stacey Tannos ESM, Commissioner, Marine Rescue NSW;
Mr. Bill Carter Unit Commander, Marine Rescue Shoalhaven;
Mr. Wayne Langshaw, A/Regional Manager, South Coast, NSW Maritime;
Members of Shoalhaven Unit and representatives from other Marine Rescue units. Marine Rescue NSW website