Police patrol boat 2021
Waterjet patrol boat for riverine and coastal policing
Following a competitive tender process undertaken in 2020, Dongara Marine was selected as a preferred supplier for new patrol vessels for an Australian police force.
For one style of patrol vessel required by the acquisition agency Dongara Marine offered a custom variant of Southerly Designs’ Avenger design family, which encompasses many small centre console vessels for the law enforcement, commercial and recreational markets.
Dongara Marine received a confirmed contract for the supply of an initial vessel of that design in early 2021. Construction of the boat was completed in August 2021, with its performance exceeding expectations.
The high speed vessel was then delivered to the police force for riverine and limited offshore operations. These are expected to include:
- Remote coastal patrols (launched from the supplied trailer);
- Remote patrols of inland water ways, rivers, lakes and dams;
- Dive operations;
- Search and rescue operations, both seagoing and coastal; and
- Vessel traffic management including for major aquatic events.
In keeping with client requirements, the police boat has a centre console with cabin arrangement. The cabin has wraparound windows forward and to the sides, and a solid roof, while its open aft end to maximise aft work deck space and access. Walkways either side of the cabin provide a full walk-around layout.
The vessel features a drop down bow door / ramp which enables easy and rapid access to shore, be it beach landing or low river banks. The buoyant ramp also facilitates retrieval of persons or objects from the water with minimal to no lifting. A full width transom platform provides additional functionality in this regard.
Powered by a single Yanmar diesel, and propelled by a HamiltonJet waterjet the vessel is capable of speeds above 35 knots. Design refinements introduced during the project enabled the performance to significantly exceed requirements and the performance of earlier, similar Avenger class boats.
The patrol boat is in survey to AMSA NSCV 2C requirements for two crew and up to four special personnel and can be operated under the command of a single qualified police officer in normal operations.
Dongara Marine also provided a custom Duralite Trailers aluminium boat trailer enabling the vessel to be re-positioned by road as required.
“Being a jet boat with a deep vee hullform, this patrol vessel provides great capability to patrol both in the really shallow waters such as rivers and lakes, but also in exposed coastal conditions.”
Rohan Warr – Managing Director - Dongara Marine
