Skipjack

In December 2020 Dongara Marine delivered its very first rigid inflatable boat (RIB) – the 8.3 metre Cape Rose (see here) – to Marine Rescue Shark Bay. A little more than 3.5 years later we handed over the 12 metre custom RIB Skipjack to work alongside the earlier vessel.

A full walk around cabin RIB, Skipjack is a close sistership to Marine Rescue Exmouth’s Ningaloo Guardian (see here). The vessels were built in parallel having been contracted by the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) at the same time. They in turn are variants of Dampier Legend, delivered in April 2024 (see here).

Dongara Marine customised the detail design and equipment to meet specifications provided by the volunteers at Marine Rescue Shark Bay.

As with Ninglaoo Guardian, Skipjack has a triple diesel outboard propulsion system selected to address the challenges of refuelling a petrol powered vessel of this size in Shark Bay, where only diesel is available for in-water fuelling.

The internal layout is also very similar to Marine Rescue Exmouth’s vessel, with notable differences incorporated by Dongara Marine being:

• A smaller capacity (70 litre) fresh water system with an internal rather than external sink
• Chemical toilet rather than plumbed sea water flush toilet
• Refrigerator moved from forward cabin to wheelhouse
• Additional seat with storage on the aft deck
• Single tow reel aft instead of two on Ningaloo Guardian
• No provision for davit as not required by Marine Rescue Shark Bay
• Seat / stowage included on foredeck ahead of superstructure
• Fixed (non-folding) mast as no requirement for regular folding down

Skipjack achieved the same 40 knot loaded speed performance as Ningaloo Guardian.

It has a fully enclosed, walk-around wheelhouse arrangement providing easy and safe movement from the bow to the stern with no need to climb up or navigate narrow side decks. This also provides ease of access right around the vessel perimeter for mooring, rafting, and/or boarding operations.

Inside the air conditioned wheelhouse, there is the same full width console forward with helm to starboard and navigation / radio operator position to port either side of the door leading to the forward cabin. Further aft are two crew positions, with one having its own console with navigation system screen.

As with the other 12 metre vessels the electronics package includes three 16-inch Simrad displays, radar, satellite compass, AIS, FLIR gyro-stabilised thermal camera, RDF, and satellite phone.

Accessed through the main console, the forward half / cuddy cabin is primarily configured for storage space but also contains the toilet.

Aft of the wheelhouse is an open work deck with integral towing post, two bench seats at the transom one with a tow reel below, plus additional seats with stowage each side of the wheelhouse door. Up to 12 people can be carried under AMSA NSCV 2C Survey.

Rescue zones, with lower gunwale heights and lift out handrails, are incorporated on each side. The  custom RIB also includes antennas fitted to powered mounts to enable them to be raised and lowered from the helm console; a Lone Star Marine electric drum anchor winch and below chine anchor stowage; and a custom ladder system enabling personnel to embark and disembark vessel over the bow or sides.

The Shark Bay volunteers 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.

Footnote: Similar vessels have been delivered to Marine Rescue Exmouth and Marine Rescue Dampier with other 12 metre RIBs currently under construction for Marine Rescue Whitfords, Marine Rescue Mandurah, and Marine Rescue Bunbury.