TASPORTS has awarded grants to three local marine rescue organisations to upgrade critical safety gear.
Tamar Sea Rescue, Volunteer Marine Rescue Kingborough and Dodges Ferry Marine Rescue are operated by volunteers and, according to TasPorts, have limited access to funding beyond basic necessities.
TasPorts said one grant helped Tamar Sea Rescue purchase two new seats for its larger vessel, a requirement for it to continue to undertake longer rescue missions.
Tamar Sea Rescue operations manager Matthew O’Neil said TasPorts is a “massive supporter” of the organisation and the boating community.
“We had identified after a large rescue in January that we really needed to do something about our seating if we were going to continue at this level,” Mr O’Neil said.
“Our existing seats were on a solid alloy pedestal with one inch of soft material, meaning our volunteers were taking every hit the boat was receiving. The new hi-tech seat design reduces fatigue and injury for those on the board, making the job of our volunteers so much safer.”
And Volunteer Marine Rescue Kingborough purchased a rescue dummy with its funding.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Kingborough secretary Andrew Fogarty said the 40-kilogram dummy would help ensure volunteers are adequately trained.
“The dummy replicates a human and can be used to allow us to simulate the retrieval of a person from the water. This allows training to be done safely and reduces risk to our members.
“TasPorts has shown a fantastic commitment to marine rescue around the state, and we are very grateful and excited to work hand-in-hand to help keep people safe out on the water.”
And Dodges Ferry Marine Rescue use the grant to purchase new lifejackets for volunteers.
Dodges Ferry Volunteer Marine Rescue secretary Michael Verrier said the funds would also allow the organisation to update its training room.
“Our training room is used for educational purposes and by the general public completing their boat licence,” he said.
“The funds from TasPorts will allow us to provide better participant facilities for enhanced learning.”
