VESSEL REVIEW | Medicat – Australian ferry company introduces new ambulance boat

Shipbuilder Commercial Marine Australia (CMA) has completed construction of a catamaran ambulance boat for Australian ferry operator SeaLink.

The custom-designed and -built Medicat will be operated by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in serving residents of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands in South East Queensland primarily by transporting them to the mainland to receive needed medical attention in fully-equipped hospitals. SeaLink Marine and Tourism CEO Donna Gauci said the custom-built vessel offers a greater patient capacity compared to its predecessor as well as guarantees enhanced comfort, safety, and patient care.

The catamaran has a length of 12 metres and capacity for 16 people including patients, ambulance personnel, and a helm operator. A dedicated space is also available for three patients on stretchers.

The electronics suite includes a Simrad radar and a rotating thermal camera to enable patient transport even under low-visibility conditions. The wheelhouse features reverse-angled windscreens to help reduce glare.

Medicat was designed in consultation with QAS officers to ensure that the vessel provides a modern platform for patient care transportation.

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