VESSEL REVIEW | Response 3 – Australian port operator acquires patrol and emergency service RIB
The Port Authority of New South Wales (PANSW) in Australia has taken delivery of a new 10-metre (30-foot) rigid inflatable boat (RIB) supplied by local company the Whiskey Project Group (TWPG).
Response 3 will join PANSW's Sydney Harbour and Port Botany response teams. With twin Yamaha 300hp (220kW) outboard engines and an 870-litre (190-gallon) fuel capacity, she will be used for emergency response and patrol duties around port waters.
Design work on the RIB was provided by New Zealand-based Naiad, a company under TWPG. The port authority said it had worked closely with more than 20 specialist shipbuilders and maritime experts over the past several months to facilitate the delivery of the vessel.
Fast and durable multi-role platform
“We needed a safe, fast, reliable and highly manoeuvrable vessel that could meet the demands of a busy working harbour to replace an outgoing vessel at the end of its operational lifespan.” John Finch, PANSW Chief Operating Officer, told Baird Maritime.
“Response 3 was purchased as a workhorse for our marine operations across Sydney Harbour and Port Botany. We required a fast multi-purpose vessel [capable of] carrying out critical tasks such as vessel escorts, patrols and incident response, while also supporting day-to-day activities including crew transfers, navigation aid maintenance and pollution response.”
Finch added that the RIB can reach speeds of up to 45 knots, making her the fastest vessel in the PANSW fleet and enabling the port authority’s marine operations teams to get to where they need to be as quickly as possible.
“She’s been designed to perform a demanding operational role safely and effectively, day in and day out. A reinforced aluminium hull and a level-flotation foam and collar system help maximise stability and safety on the water, while suspension seating reduces impact for crews operating in rough conditions.”
Custom features coupled with full electronics suite
According to TWPG, the new RIB possesses a number of unique features, "but nothing [that would make her] too different from other vessels." There are three lifting points that allow the boat to be craned into and out of the water daily, an underchine system that will allow the anchor to remain deployed and not interfere with the fendering, and port and starboard notches just aft of the wheelhouse to permit safe egress/ingress to other vessels and wharves.
The RIB can also provide towing and pushing assistance for other vessels, such as disabled small boats. A pusher system fitted on the bow will ensure safe manoeuvring of other vessels while twin bollards fore and aft a tow post will permit towing as an alternative.
The vessel is also equipped with integrated navigation and communication systems for real-time situational awareness. The wheelhouse electronics include a Furuno NXT radar and a Teledyne FLIR rotating thermal camera to permit safe navigation and monitoring of the surrounding area even under reduced-visibility conditions.
The wheelhouse itself has forward-leaning windscreens to help reduce glare from the helm station and to reduce reliance on wipers when operating under inclement weather conditions.
The propulsion arrangement also includes a power-assisted hydraulic steering system supplied by Seastar.
"Response 3 reflects the port authority’s ongoing investment in a modern, reliable fleet for our people, ensuring we can continue delivering essential services and keep trade moving safely and efficiently,” Finch told Baird Maritime.
