Port Fairy Marine Rescue will be celebrating the official arrival of its new vessel the ‘Captain John Mills’, which will provide a major boost to waterway safety in the Port Fairy area.
Gayle Tierney, Upper House Member for Western Victoria, will officially launch the new search and rescue vessel at a ceremony to be held on 19 July 2008 at 11 am at the Moyne River Boat Ramp, Griffith Street, Port Fairy.
“This new vessel will assist the Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service (PFMRS) in their continued dedication to search and rescue efforts, as well as make a substantial contribution to increasing overall marine safety and reduce response times to marine incidents,” says Ms Tierney.
“Nearly $52,000 was provided to this project from the 2006-07 Boating Safety and Facilities Program. This grant-based funding is available to boost safety education and training, purchase search and rescue vessels and equipment, upgrade navigation and boating safety signage, construct boat ramps and jetties and provide new marine communications across the State.”
“Currently in its eighth year, the Boating Safety and Facilities Program has already invested over $31 million into projects that are making boating safer and more accessible to more Victorians, and the new Stabicraft vessel is a testament to the efforts the Victorian Government is putting back into the marine community.”
The Boating Safety and Facilities Program is funded by re-investing recreational boat operator licensing fees and vessel registration revenue. Applications for the 2008-09 Program have closed, with new grants to be provided to a range of boating, fishing and community groups, search and rescue organisations, local waterway authorities, government agencies and committees of management.
For further information on the program contact Marine Safety Victoria on 1800 337 222 or visit www.marinesafety.vic.gov.au
Notes: The new vessel is a Stabicraft 659SC, 6.7m aluminium hulled, trailer-able vessel. The vessel is built to survey classification 2C of the USL Code. It is powered by two Yamaha 80 horse power outboard motors.