Keel laid for AMSA’s reef ETV

THE KEEL of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s new Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef emergency towing vessel has been laid at the Shandong Port Marine Equipment Shipyard in Rizhao, China. 

The keel-laying ceremony took place last Friday, 8 August, a date chosen for good fortune in Chinese tradition. A ceremonial coin was placed beneath the keel to symbolise safe and successful voyages ahead. 

The Robert Allen-designed RAsalvor6500 is being constructed for Smit Lamnalco Australia, which secured the ETV contract with AMSA in December 2023 and took over service provision on 1 July last year using the temporary ETV Reef Keeper. The latter replaced the AMS-operated Coral Knight, last reported working for Bhagwan Marine in northern Australian waters.

Last month AMSA ran a naming competition for the new vessel and has announced it will be known as Reef Responder, which the authority says was a clear favourite amongst respondents. 

Reef Responder will have a 46% increase in bollard pull power (120 tonnes versus 100 tonnes for Reef Keeper and 82 tonnes for Coral Knight) greater top speed and larger crew capacity.  

AMSA said the new vessel will have a hybrid propulsion system that allows the power generation system to be optimised for the desired operational profile and speed. Consideration has also been given in the design stage for the use of methanol as an alternative future fuel source which aligns with the global push to reduce emissions and decarbonise shipping.  

It will be fitted with high-performance equipment, including MAN main engines, Brunvoll propulsion and DP2, Cummins gensets, and a Melcal crane.

It is due for delivery in 2026.