In July 2017 the Volunteer Marine Rescue took delivery of a fully equipped purpose built Rescue Vessel, specifically suited to our area of responsibility, which covers a 13,000 sq km area of ocean/coastline known for its coral reefs, fast flowing currents and notorious wind-over-tide sea conditions.
Coral Sea Marina VMR1
The vessel is a 12m NoosaCat with twin Cummins diesel engines specifically designed and purpose built as an offshore rescue vessel. The fly bridge aids visibility around the fringing reefs of the Whitsundays and for search and rescue operations in adverse conditions, and the substantial fuel capacity provides a considerable safety margin for long tows. (See Specifications)
Coral Sea Marina|Resort are the Platinum Sponsors for VMR Whitsunday, and have therefore secured naming rights on the vessel, Coral Sea Marina VMR1. Our thanks go to owner Paul Darrouzet for his generosity and support.
Whale Song VMR2
In October 2019 VMR Whitsunday took delivery of its second purpose built Rescue Vessel, a Naiad 6.7 metre RHIB built by Yamba Welding and Engineering, a specialist emergency vessel builder.
While not as powerful as VMR1, this RHIB is capable of travelling at speeds up to 30 knots making it an ideal emergency response vessel. It is specifically efficient and effective within shallow areas and very capable of assisting vessels under 8 metres.
The vessel is a 6.7m Naiad RHIB with twin F130 Yamaha outboard engines specifically designed and purpose built as a rescue vessel, with foam filled airbags. It has identical Furuno plotters, GPS, sonar, radar and AIS (Automatic Identification System) which are the same as VMR1, to enable interchangeable crewing. See SPECIFICATIONS
Whale Song VMR2 is named after our Gold Sponsor Emerald Sea Surveys’ whale research vessel R.V.Whale Song and we thank prominent whale researchers Curt and Micheline Jenner for their support and generosity.