Marine Rescue Vessel Ready To Save Lives

Cronulla RSL are proud to help the Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking Unit get their new Naiad vessel, Botany Hacking 32 (BH32), fully equipped to be able meet the requirements of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority requirements, as a ‘Search & Rescue’ vessel.

BH32 joins their fleet of vessels in order to allow the Unit to better respond to the increasing calls for assistance from boaters and fishers in distress, and to keep their members safe in responding to calls for emergency assistance.

Our waterways have the State's second highest level of boat licence holders, the highest level of PWC (jet-ski) licence holders and the Port Hacking area accounts for 29% of maritime accidents in local waterways. In the previous boating season, their Unit took over 6000 calls, assisting 240 vessels. The new vessel will provide increased capacity to meet community need, both by increasing their response capability and also by expanding their operational ability into more shallow areas.

Thanks to the donation of Cronulla RSL, through the supplier Whitworths, the Unit has been able to purchase essential personal protection and safety equipment which will be used during search & rescue activities.

This new equipment ensures that the vessel conforms with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority requirements, as a ‘Search & Rescue’ vessel.