New state-of-the-art boat for Water Police

Police Minister Liza Harvey has launched a new $2.

  • New $2.28million purpose-built boat ready to be deployed

  • Boat extends Water Police capacity for search, rescue and recovery

  • New vessel in line with Government's commitment to providing police with modern equipment

Police Minister Liza Harvey has launched a new $2.28million purpose-built police boat to assist in search and rescue operations.

Mrs Harvey said Cygnet V was the first major purpose-built vessel in WA Police history, highlighting the State Government's commitment to providing the best equipment possible to meet the demands of contemporary policing.

"Cygnet V is better equipped than any of its predecessors and has the waterline, length, strength, safe design and power to protect our coast and perform critical marine search and rescues when required," she said.

The Minister said Water Police had a fleet of eight vessels, with two at Dampier, two at Peel, and four at Fremantle.

"This 17m boat will be an important asset for our police.  Western Australia has the longest coastline of any Australian State and WA Water Police operate in the world's largest water police jurisdiction," she said.

"This new vessel has a fuel capacity that means it can travel up to 380 nautical miles - for example from Fremantle to Carnarvon, without refuelling, and it can cruise at 25 knots."

Mrs Harvey said Cygnet V could carry up to 12 people and would mainly be used to carry out search and rescue operations.

"It will also be used to manage marine crime and carry out dive operations for crime scene evidence search and recovery, as well as provide security to major ports and offshore facilities, and convey prisoners," she said.

"WA Water Police carry out an absolutely essential role in keeping our community safe on the water, and I am pleased they are now better equipped to carry out their duties."

So far this year, Fremantle Water Police have conducted 934 hours on search and rescue activities, and last year they carried out 2,076 hours.

         Fact File

  • Liberal National Government provided $3.78million to WA Police to update 48 of their motor vehicles with technology to check about 1,000 vehicle number plates per hour

  • Liberal National Government funded a $20million hi-tech helicopter for WA Police

  • Liberal National Government allocated $1.3million for the lease and fit-out of two police transport vehicles and $1.2million to double the number of general-purpose dogs

Minister's office - 6552 5900