Mimosa
Rigid inflatable for local Marine Rescue
The third new vessel Dongara Marine produced for Western Australia’s Marine Rescue fleet was delivered to volunteers in Geraldton in mid-2022.
Named Mimosa after the star that forms an axis of the Southern Cross constellation, the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) is a close sister ship to Cape Rose which we delivered to Marine Rescue Shark Bay at the end of 2020.
As with that vessel, Mimosa has an aluminium hull with a foam collar, a wheelhouse with console for helm and navigation plus crew seating, and a forward cabin primarily used for stowage. The aft work deck is sheltered by a canvas canopy, and integrates a substantial tow post aft.
Marine Rescue Geraldton’s specific preferences and requirements were addressed by Dongara Marine and the naval architects at Southerly Designs through a series of small changes to the proven Cape Rose design. These included:
- Twin 250hp Yamaha outboards substituted for the Yamaha 200hp engines on the earlier vessel, giving a higher maximum speed
- Fuel tank capacity increased from 400 litres to 500 litres, enabling greater range and endurance
- Use of Yamaha’s HelmMaster manoeuvring control system
- Inclusion of very high specification Shockwave S3 suspension seats for the helm and navigation positions
- Additional of a shore power system
Geraldton Marine Electronics installed a suite of navigation, communication, and surveillance equipment including 16-inch Furuno Navnet displays with remote controls.
As with all recent new boats and vessel refits undertaken for Marine Rescue use, Mimosa was built under contract with Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Dongara Marine also supplied a custom Duralite boat trailer as part of the contract.
The Geraldton volunteers, who also have the older 10 metre RIB Nashira, are one of 37 Marine Rescue WA groups situated along Western Australia’s coastline from Esperance in the south to Kununurra in the north that are managed and funded through DFES. Another two, in Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, are funded and managed by the Commonwealth.
For more information on Volunteer Marine Rescue Western Australia (VMRWA) visit www.vmrwa.org.au or its Facebook page.
“The new vessel will give our hard-working emergency service volunteers the opportunity to get help to those who need it much faster and that can be critical in any rescue.”
Hon Stephen Dawson MLC - Minister for Emergency Services
