A new fleet of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) vessels are making their way to the New England to help clean up our waterway.
The NSW Government is investing in the vessels to help limit oil, diesel and other pollutant spills in the state’s waterways, with 19 new vessels being rolled out to Fire and Rescue NSW units, and Tamworth’s on the list.
“The upgraded vessels reinforce our commitment to protecting communities, and these new and improved vessels are not only safer for crew members but are also fitted out with advanced emissions control technologies to help reduce impacts on the environment.” said Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib.
The new locally made vessels replace a 15-year-old fleet and offer larger and more stable platforms for crews to operate from.
The $1.58 million fleet is part of the NSW Government’s $18.6 million investment in FRNSW’s Fleet Replacement Program 2024-25.
Each vessel can tow and deploy absorbent and containment booms to limit hazardous spills. They also carry specialised equipment designed to contain and recover contaminants, reducing environmental harm during an incident.
An initial three vessels have been delivered to locations in Bathurst, Newcastle and Shellharbour, while additional units will be delivered to locations including Batemans Bay, Berkeley Vale, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Eden, Goonellabah, Leeton, Lithgow, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Tweed Heads and Wagga Wagga over coming months.
The new vessels are strategically located and can be deployed at any time, with response times of under two hours. They are also fitted with advanced emissions technology using the most efficient controls available to help limit their environmental impact.
“These upgrades will help strengthen FRNSW’s response as the combat agency for HAZMAT.” said
Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW Jeremy Fewtrell.
Operators of the HAZMAT vessels undergo rigorous training, ensuring crews are prepared for complex incidents. Training is planned for teams in Berkeley Vale by the end of the year with the remaining boats to be rolled out by June 2025.
Read all the way through to the end of the story? So did lots of other people. Advertise with New England Times to reach New England locals who are interested and engaged. Find out more here.