Refurbished Marine Rescue Eden vessel struck while berthed days before official welcome
A newly refurbished Marine Rescue NSW vessel has been extensively damaged after being accidently struck by another vessel while berthed at the Port of Eden, just days before it was due to be officially welcomed into service.
Marine Rescue Eden’s 10.4-metre Eden 30 (ED 30) was struck while secured at its berth early on Monday morning, 31 August. No one was on board at the time and no-one was injured.
The collision caused significant structural damage to the vessel’s hull and superstructure, including its cabin and deck.
The vessel had been due to be officially welcomed to the Marine Rescue NSW fleet next Monday, 7 September, but that ceremony has now been postponed indefinitely.
A shipwright and vessel surveyor have been engaged to assess the damage and determine the vessel’s future.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the incident was a devastating blow for Marine Rescue Eden volunteers, who had worked extensively to prepare the vessel for service.
“This is a heartbreaking setback for our volunteers at Marine Rescue Eden,” Commissioner Andrews said.
“Our rescue vessel was caught between the vessel that struck it and the jetty, resulting in a significant impact and causing extensive damage.
“Eden 30 represented a major investment in the safety of the Far South Coast and, for the first time, gave the unit a dedicated rescue vessel it could truly call its own.
“The arrival of ED 30 strengthened Marine Rescue Eden’s ability to respond to emergencies across Twofold Bay and surrounding waters, extending south to the NSW-Victoria border.
“The volunteers had embraced this project from day one. They had put in many hours learning the vessel, preparing it for operational service and responding to boaters in distress,” he said.
“To see it suffer such extensive damage before we could even officially welcome it to our fleet is incredibly disappointing,” Commissioner Andrews said.
“Thankfully, the most important thing is that nobody was on board and nobody was injured when the collision occurred.
“Our priority now is supporting the Eden volunteers, ensuring operational capability is maintained and completing the damage and insurance assessments.”
Eden 30 was given to Marine Rescue NSW in March after many years of service with the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command.
Originally built in 2006, the 10.4-metre Steber cabin cruiser then underwent a comprehensive interior and exterior refurbishment on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with Marine Rescue NSW making a significant financial investment to bring the vessel up to modern operational standards.
Image: The vessel was fitted with new electronics
It arrived in Eden by truck in July, with volunteers undertaking induction and training before it entered operational service.
Marine Rescue Eden Unit Commander Roger Barson said the vessel had already demonstrated its value to the unit.
“Our volunteers are heartbroken,” Barson said.
“The Eden unit had put an enormous amount of work into this project and were incredibly proud to finally have our own dedicated rescue vessel.
“We had already been responding to boaters in distress with Eden 30, and our volunteers were becoming very familiar with the vessel and what she could do.
“To have that taken away so suddenly is a huge disappointment.”
Image: Unit members were excited when ED 30 was delivered in July
Despite the setback, Marine Rescue Eden volunteers were back responding to the community within hours of the incident.
“Just after 11.30am the same morning, our volunteers responded to assist a boater who suffered engine failure at the mouth of the Kiah River using Xray 23, the smaller state-loaned vessel currently based at Eden,” Commissioner Andrews said.
“That says a lot about the commitment of these volunteers. They were dealing with a devastating setback and still put their own disappointment aside to answer the call for help.
“Xray 23 will continue to provide coverage across Twofold Bay while the assessments are completed, with Marine Rescue Merimbula providing extended coverage for offshore rescues.
“We are also looking at options for an interim replacement rescue vessel at Eden.”
Commissioner Andrews said the incident highlighted the importance of community support for Marine Rescue NSW’s volunteer units.
“Marine Rescue NSW is a not-for-profit emergency service partially funded by the NSW Government but all units rely heavily on the fundraising efforts of their volunteers and the generosity of the communities they serve to help fund operational costs,” he said.
“Our volunteers spend numerous hours monitoring marine radio, maintaining vessels, training on and off the water, responding to emergencies and raising funds to help provide the assets they need to keep their communities safe.
“The Eden unit needs its community behind it at the moment.
Eden 30’s future will be determined once the damage and insurance assessments have been completed.