Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Water Police News

16 Jun 2021

Dongara Marine Delivers Its First Rescue RIB

(Photo: Dongara Marine)

The first newbuild rigid inflatable boat (RIB) built by Dongara Marine has entered into service, heralding a raft of government and RIB contracts for the Western Australian boatbuilder.The newbuild, Cape Rose, was completed at the end of last year and has been operating for Marine Rescue Shark Bay since delivery to Denham in early in 2021. It has replaced a response vessel that had serviced the Western Australia (WA) coastline for more than 20 years, both with the group and previously…

10 May 2021

OPINION: Regulating Grey Water ... the Time is Now

© lancesagar/AdobeStock

The IMO’s MARPOL Annex IV is being revised to confirm the lifetime performance of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). This may finally bring about grey water regulation – a necessity that is long overdue.Black Water and Grey WaterA ship’s sewage (black water) is collected from toilets, urinals and hospitals. The IMO’s MARPOL Annex IV prohibits its discharge, except when treated by an STP or discharged at > 12nm from the nearest land. A ship’s grey water, collected from showers, wash basins…

28 May 2020

APL England Detained After Dropping Containers off Australia

(Photo: AMSA)

A Singapore-flagged containership that lost at least 40 containers overboard off the coast of Sydney has been detained by authorities in the Port of Brisbane after Australian inspectors found inadequate lashing arrangements for cargo and heavily corroded securing points for containers on deck.APL England had been en route from Ningbo, China to Melbourne on Sunday when it rerouted to Brisbane after a temporary propulsion loss left the 277-meter vessel rolling in heavy seas and caused several container stacks to topple over about 73 kilometers south east of Sydney.

03 Sep 2019

Divers Recover 20 Bodies from California Boat Fire

Divers recovered the bodies of 20 of 34 people believed to have been killed after a fast-moving fire broke out aboard a dive boat off California's Santa Cruz Island, trapping the victims below deck, authorities said on Tuesday.Search and rescue efforts were called off and recovery moves were underway, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and U.S. Coast Guard officials told a press conference.Authorities will use so-called rapid DNA technology to identify the bodies, 11 females and 9 males, authorities said.Other bodies were seen in the underwater wreckage. When water and weather conditions stabilize, crews will attempt to recover the remaining 14, authorities said.The 75-foot (23 m) Conception caught fire about 3:15 a.m. Monday and sank.

03 Sep 2019

Divers Search for Bodies in CA Boat Fire

A USCG image of local responders fighting the fire on board the Conception.

Divers searched for more bodies early on Tuesday around the wreck of a boat destroyed by a blaze off the coast of southern California, as authorities launched an investigation into one of the area's worst maritime disasters.Emergency crews found at least 25 bodies after the fire broke out before dawn on Monday, leaving nine people still missing, the Associated Press reported. The coastguard declined to confirm the figures."We are looking for bodies now," said Santa Barbara Fire Department spokeswoman Amber Anderson.Flames ripped through the scuba diving vessel Conception…

26 Feb 2018

Body of missing person from racing yacht located

The body of the missing crew member was located by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Dauphin helicopter at 12.30 pm AWST yesterday, and recovered by Fremantle Water Police. AMSA detected a distress beacon at 11.45 pm AWST last night (23 February 2018) which was registered to the 15 metre yacht Finistere with six people on board. The yacht’s crew were participating in the Bunbury and Return Ocean Race. Attempts to contact the yacht directly via radio were unsuccessful and the yacht’s tracker failed to update at 12 am AWST. AMSA advised the Fremantle Water Police of the incident and tasked the DFES RAC Rescue helicopter 652. The helicopter arrived on scene at 12.30 am AWST and sighted an overturned yacht in the water.

21 May 2017

Ships Combine for Moreton Anniversary

In the middle an intense training and systems check period, HMAS Darwin slipped into the Brisbane River and berthed across from Navy’s home in southern Queensland, HMAS Moreton. The frigate’s arrival in Brisbane coincided with the first anniversary since the local base was re-commissioned. On arrival, Commanding Officer Darwin Commander Phillip Henry was met by the Commanding Officer Moreton, Commander Mark McConnell, who welcomed the ship to the city. After taking care of all the necessary ship-keeping duties, the crew, who had a surprising number of family connections in the area, ventured ashore for some well-earned rest and relaxation.

02 Feb 2017

Quicker and Easier Man Over Board Retrieval

Image: MOB Lifesavers

All lifejackets are fitted with a lifting becket, which in comparison with the size of body in rough seas, is like finding a needle in a haystack. Lifesaver is 3 meters of brightly visible yellow line, spliced into a loop with a triangle at one end. The other end is fitted to the lifting becket in an automatic life jacket. When the life jacket inflates, the Lifesaver floats out onto the water and is much easier and faster for the rescuer onboard to grab with a boathook and secure the casualty to the boat.

11 Mar 2015

Indonesian Navy gives 10 ships to Maritime Security Board

The Indonesian Navy has planned to hand over 10 Navy Patrol ships (KAL) to the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) by the end of this year, reports Jakarta Post. According to Navy chief of staff, Adm. Ade Supandi, said the 10 ships would require alterations before they could be used by Bakamla. “There needs to be some adjustments because they will be used as civilian patrol boats and we must follow several protocols,” Ade said. Some large weapons on the ships would be removed and replaced with those of a smaller caliber. For example, the 37-millimeter cannon on one of the ships would be replaced by a 12.7-millimeter one, which would be more appropriate for Bakamla’s patrol activities, he said.

08 Dec 2014

Solo Kayaker Rescued East of Coffs Harbor

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has coordinated the search and rescue of a solo kayaker off northern New South Wales. AMSA Search and Rescue officers were contacted by the International Emergency Response Centre in the United States about 10.30am (AEDT) on Monday when the kayaker activated the SOS function on a two-way satellite communication system. He had advised his partner he was not in distress but was experiencing steering problems. NSW Water Police activated a vessel from Coffs Harbor to assist at the time. A distress beacon was subsequently activated soon before 2.15pm when AMSA assumed coordination of the incident. A broadcast to shipping was issued and a merchant vessel in the vicinity responded.

21 May 2014

Brisbane Ferry Passengers Fined for River Plunges

Seven men have been issued a $2,040 infringement notice after deliberately jumping from a moving domestic commercial vessel into the Brisbane River, informs the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Queensland Water Police Senior Sergeant Warren Francis, said this was an extremely dangerous stunt and the men were lucky to escape injury. “The risk of injury or death is very high with this type of activity and it was an extremely reckless and dangerous stunt. The Queensland Police Service reminds people that any report of unsafe action on the water will be fully investigated and reported to the appropriate authority for prosecution,” Senior Sergeant Francis said.

10 May 2013

Australian Navy Assists in Search for Lost Cruise Passengers

HMAS Choules (Photo: Royal Australian Navy)

The Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules and her MRH 90 helicopter have been involved in the air and sea search for two people believed lost from the Carnival Line cruise ship Carnival Spirit off the New South Wales mid-north coast. HMAS Choules joined the search on Thursday afternoon as she was returning from North Queensland where she was conducting amphibious training exercises. The ship and her helicopter have now been released from the search which was co-ordinated by the New South Wales Water Police. Choules is now on her way to her home port in Sydney.

01 Sep 2009

Heavy Goods Through Port of Hamburg

On 10 August 2009, the Port of Hamburg was the scene of a very special event. The Unikai team successfully managed the loading of an outsized consignment manufactured by the Pullach-based Linde Engineering Division. Destined for a petrochemical plant in Brazil, this project delivery consisted of a total of 3,600 cubic metres of system components, all of which were successfully transferred with the help of a mobile crane and securely stowed on board the M/V Grande Buenos Aires, a vessel belonging to the Grimaldi shipping company.

06 May 2009

German Waterpolice Academy Upgrades Simulator

Transas Marine, Hamburg/Germany, has been awarded the upgrade contract of a Transas ECDIS Trainer for the German Waterpolice Academy, based on latest Navi-Trainer Professional 4000 and originally delivered in 2002. The new extended system comprises one instructor station and three trainee stations, each with Navi-Sailor 4000 ECDIS, a combined Conning and ARPA Station with NavAids included, a real AIS Transponder Minimum-Keyboard, reduced set of ship controls to manoeuvre the own ship and one visualisation channel to provide IMO Model Course 1.27 ECDIS Training.

14 Dec 2007

ACR EPIRBs Selected by AMSA

U.S.-based ACR Electronics, Inc. hundred SATELLITE2 406 and GlobalFix ACR EPIRB models. the protection of the marine environment. Water Police will make the EPIRBs available to local citizens. Brisbane. be directed to agencies that include Water Police, Customs and Coast Watch.

19 Sep 2000

New & Notables

Ten years ago, a RoRo passenger service called Sealink, commenced in the Bahamas — operating from Nassau to port of Governor's Harbor on the adjacent island of Eleuthera. The vessel that performed this service was an aging 14-knot Greek ferry, which established a solid market within the RoRo sector. Despite its healthy growth spurt, the venture ceased in 1993 resulting from rising repair costs and maintenance, specifically in the machinery department, as some engine parts had since been discontinued. Then a group of local businessmen purchased an Australian RoPax catamaran to re-enter the Eleuthera trade. This vessel, which incidentally is also named Sealink, is from the Sea Transport Solutions (STS) design studio in Queensland, Australia.

20 Jun 2005

Austal Wins Six Boat Contract

Austal won a contract for the design, construction and supply of six 16-m aluminium monohull boats for the Water Police in the Australian state of New South Wales. This order will add to the previous Austal delivery of two 22 m and seven 16 m patrol boats delivered in 2000. As with the previous vessels this order will be built over a period of approximately 10 months. The boats have been ordered as part of a four-year upgrade of the Water Police fleet. New South Wales Minister for Police, Carl Scully, said that once the upgrade was complete the Water Police would have a virtually new fleet, with the latest technology and an expanded counter-terrorist capability.

07 Dec 2006

Austal Patrol Boat Begins Operation in Bermuda

The sister ship to the recently delivered six New South Wales Water Police boats officially entered service on December 4 with the Bermuda Water Police. This follows a delivery trip from the West Australian shipyard that included shipping the 16 metre vessel to Savannah, Georgia before traveling under her own power on a 900 nautical mile final voyage to the island of Bermuda via Morehead City in North Carolina. Marking the occasion the Bermuda Police Service held a press conference outside its Marine Unit offices at Barr's Bay Park in the City of Hamilton to officially launch “Guardian”. Dignitaries present included H. E. The Governor, Sir John Vereker, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mrs. Roseanda Young, Chief Fire Officer Mr. Vincent Hollinsid as well as officials from H.

15 Nov 2006

Barco Simulation Software Installed at German Water Police Academy

Barco announced that its radar simulation software has been installed and put into operation as part of the new radar simulation training system of the German Water Police Academy (Wasserschutzpolizei-Schule, WSPS) in Hamburg. The official inauguration of the system took place on 11 September 2006. und Industrie GmbH, and IN-Innovative Navigation GmbH, the highly sophisticated simulation system was developed and delivered on time, despite a very demanding time schedule. The German Water Police can now claim to have one of the most modern radar simulators within Europe. Barco announced that its radar simulation software has been installed and put into operation as part of the new radar simulation training system of the German Water Police Academy (Wasserschutzpolizei-Schule…

22 Jun 2006

Toxic Chemical Clean Up Continues

Reports indicate that owners of a container ship which is leaking a toxic chemical may face prosecution as investigations continue into how the dangerous substance became exposed. Emergency Services were continuing to remove the substance from the Kota Pahlawan which was forced to dock in Brisbane, Australia. The fire brigade boarded the Liberian container ship off Caloundra to make sure the vessel was safe. They conducted gas and heat testing on the container itself, and sealed it, before allowing the ship to continue to Brisbane. The chemical, Xanthate - a powder used in the mining industry - is safe when dry. But it had become wet, giving off a potentially explosive toxic gas.

07 Nov 2005

Australia's Waterways Security to be Boosted

According to The Age, increased security patrols around Melbourne Port and a 24-hour control center for the Yarra River feature in security and operational plans for Melbourne's waterways during next year's Commonwealth Games. Details have emerged as the Federal Government begins its race against the clock to complete security checks on port workers and users who need access to secure areas during the Games. The issuing of 140,000 identification cards to maritime workers is one of the Government's key initiatives for national security, and is scheduled to be completed by January 2007. The port will continue operating during the Games, with security agencies planning patrols by water police. Special underwater capabilities and police divers will be available.

27 Aug 1999

CDM Offers

CDM is a Western Australian company, and is among the forerunners in aluminum vessel construction systems and fabrication. More than 300 CDM vessels are in operation worldwide. The company's latest product is the VCS Vessel Construction Software, also known as "boat in a box." The VCS package contains all of the construction data, aluminum plate cutting codes and information necessary to fabricate a selected vessel from more than 100 proven vessel designs. All a builder needs to do, is take the Aluminum Cutter Disk to an aluminum plate supplier/cutter, obtain the precision cut plate and commence welding in accordance with the detailed construction manual.

30 May 2003

Bulk Carrier, Fishing Trawler Collide Off of Australia

55-year-old captain of a fishing trawler involved in a collision with a 70,000 tonne bulk carrier at about 12.10am this morning north-east of Townsville. Two Queensland Rescue helicopters and up to eight vessels including a Townsville Water Police launch and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard boat, are searching for the missing man. The collision occurred at a position 35 nautical miles (64kms) north east of Townsville. The sunken vessel’s 62-year-old male deckhand was rescued by a Townsville Water Police launch at around 4am this morning. He was suffering mild hypothermia and advised that the missing captain was last seen in the fishing vessel’s wheelhouse shortly before the collision. The bulk carrier was en route from New Caledonia to Townsville.