Bunbury Marine Rescue have seen their response capacity strengthened with new cutting-edge vessel

A South West marine rescue group have seen their response capacity strengthened with a brand new cutting-edge vessel.

Marine Rescue Bunbury has launched a $1.2 million, 12m rigid hull vessel with South West Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch.

It replaces the previous 10.8m OceanCat and will continue a rich history of Marine Rescue Bunbury by carrying on the name Spirit of Bunbury.

The new vessel has greater stability, buoyancy and impact tolerance, making it safer for close-quarters work, bar crossings and rescues in rough conditions.

The new boat features an AirBerth boat lift, which allows it to remain fully afloat and ready for immediate deployment, enabling rapid launch without relying on trailers, boat ramps or tidal conditions — providing a significant improvement in response efficiency.

Mr Punch said the dedicated volunteers of Marine Rescue Bunbury have played a critical role in keeping the community safe for the last 45 years, often serving as the first responders when emergencies occur on the water.

“It is essential that these volunteers have access to modern, reliable vessels and equipment to carry out their lifesaving work effectively, particularly in challenging conditions,” he said.

“We have invested $1.2m through the marine services capital grants program to ensure volunteer marine rescue groups have the resources they need to protect our communities.”

Acting Emergency Services Minister Tony Buti said the new boat helped harness the skills, expertise and ingenuity in WA to deliver better outcomes for the community and frontline emergency services personnel.

“Our emergency services do an extraordinary job protecting Western Australians, and it’s important we continue to invest in the tools and technology that help keep them safe,” he said.