A new all-weather, fast-response police patrol vessel set to be fitted out with the latest technology is on track to be delivered in 2021.
It was announced on Thursday the $3.2 million tender for the new vessel has been awarded to Victorian company Hart Marine Pty Ltd.
Tasmania Police Acting Inspector John Pratt said the vessel being replaced was 35 years old.
"Whilst it has done a good job, new equipment is always great - great for the safety of Tasmania Police and for the members of the public we may need to go and assist," Acting Inspector Pratt said.
Police Minister Mark Shelton said new vessel would operate predominantly out of Hobart but would have the capability to operate around all of Tasmania's coast line, including the West Coast.
"We are an island state and we need to make sure that, not only do we have a capability in search and rescue, but our fishery resources are protected from people doing the wrong thing," Mr Shelton said.
The RT-500-M is a VHF/UHF radio direction finding (DF) solution designed for professional maritime applications. With continuous frequency coverage between 118 and 470 MHz, the RT-500-M is capable of operation on all common emergency frequencies including 121.5 MHz, VHF Marine Ch. 16 (156.8 MHz), 243 MHz, and 406 MHz distress beacons (ELTs/EPIRBs/PLBs). Additionally, the RT-500-M is capable of decoding messages from 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat distress beacons—including latitude/longitude when available.
Rhotheta has leveraged more than 30 years of engineering experience to develop a comprehensive line of radio direction-finding equipment for air traffic control, search and rescue, and vessel traffic services. The company has found a competitive edge in the industry through a keen dedication to customer service and an optimal price/performance ratio. More than 200 organizations depend on Rhotheta products including the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, and German Air Navigation Services. For more information, visit
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