RESCUE vessel Narooma 30, a $410,000 investment in marine safety stationed at Marine Rescue Narooma was officially commissioned on Saturday afternoon and named the RV John Young in honour of the unit’s former commander.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MRNSW Deputy Commissioner Dean Storey, new Narooma Unit Commander Eric Hibbett and former commander John Young, welcomed Andrew Constance, Member for Bega and NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Eurobodalla Shire mayor Lindsay Brown, as well as other guests and unit members to the commissioning ceremony.
Moving ceremony at Mill Bay
The commissioning ceremony of the “Narooma 30 – RV John Young” at Mill Bay on Saturday afternoon was all the more moving given the outgoing commanders brave battle with cancer.
John Young said he was most reluctant to have the vessel named after him but in the end he had little choice over the matter.
“They ended up going ahead with it while I was in hospital,” he joked.
His wife Ronja and mother were also present at the naming ceremony and Ronja poured a bottle of champagne over the vessel to christen it.
John said Marine Rescue had become a big part of his life since assuming role of commander three years ago. He was also involved with old Coast Guard at Shellharbour and Wollongong in the 1970s and 80s.
John Young said he was still keen to stay involved in the unit despite his battle with the illness.
State Member Andrew Constance acknowledged the dedication of John Young and all the volunteers.
“This is one of the most dangerous bars in NSW if not Australia which is all the more reason to have this vessel to keep the boating public and equally important the volunteers safe,” Constance said.
The second point worth noting was that Marine Rescue Narooma unit had the most requests for new State flags as the exposed condition of the base on the headland meant a new flag only lasted about three months.
The Narooma Sport and Game Fishing Club would also like to congratulate John Young, who is a club member, for having the rescue vessel named the RV John Young after him
"We at the club could not be prouder of John and he fully deserves this great recognition," NSGFC spokesman Jan Hemmingsen said.
State-of-the-art, rapid response
Deputy Commissioner Storey said the Narooma vessel was a significant boost in the capability of marine search and rescue volunteers on the Far South Coast.
“This state-of-the-art, rapid response 10m Naiad Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) is able to travel up to 30 nautical miles offshore and further strengthens Marine Rescue’s strategic search and rescue safety net covering the NSW coastline,” he said.
“It is one of 61 new and refurbished vessels delivered to date in our $14.3 million fleet modernisation program. Built by Yamba Welding and Engineering, it is also a valuable investment in jobs in NSW.”
MR Narooma Unit Commander Eric Hibbett said Narooma 30 – RV John Young represented a major advance in the unit’s capability and an opportunity to honour the work of the former unit commander, John Young, who has been instrumental in guiding the unit to its present high standard.
“This new boat is our primary offshore rescue vessel, and is supported by two Jet Ski Rescue Water Craft which provide a rapid response to incidents on our enclosed waters and shoreline, and assist us in our training program,” UC Hibbett said.
“Narooma 30 – RV John Young has been a tremendous boost to our resources, giving us greater range, power and towing capacity. It’s a powerful, stable and safe vessel for our volunteers, so our crews can respond more efficiently than ever to help boaters in trouble.”
Narooma 30 – RV John Young is one of three similar vessels that were commissioned on the weekend.
Marine Rescue units at Crowdy Harrington and Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid north coast also officially welcomed their new 9.5m Naiad RHIBs.
All vessels carry a range of specialised search and rescue navigation, communications and first aid equipment.
UC Hibbett thanked the local community and visiting boaters for supporting the volunteers’ fundraising efforts.
Deputy Commissioner Storey acknowledged the vital support of the State Government and the boating community for Marine Rescue’s essential services.
“The financial support we receive from the Government and through the levy on boaters’ registration and licence fees represents about 50 per cent of the annual budget we need to provide NSW with a world-class marine search and rescue, radio network and education service for safer boating.
“Even with this funding support, as a community-based organisation, we still need to rely on our volunteers’ energetic fundraising.
“I thank the residents of the Narooma and wider South Cast community, as well as the many visitors to the area, for their generosity towards the unit,” he said.
Boaters heading out on the water should remember to Log On and Log Off with MRNSW using their marine radio, telephone or the MarineRescue mobile app, suitable for Apple and Android devices and available on the App Store and Google play.