SeaLink launches custom-built ambulance vessel for Southern Moreton Bay Islands

Wednesday 02 August 2023

Fresh off the slipway at Hemmant in Brisbane, SeaLink’s newest custom designed and locally built vessel, Medicat, is purpose built for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to support their commitment to caring and supporting the Southern Moreton Bay Islands community.

At a cost of $1.77 million, SeaLink’s new 12 metre vessel will help the QAS transport patients between the South Moreton Bay Islands and the mainland, and has the capacity to carry three patients on stretchers, with a capacity of 16 people on board including ambulance officers and the vessel master.

SeaLink Marine & Tourism CEO Donna Gauci said the custom-built vessel provided an essential service to the local community with more patient capacity than the previous ferry, as well as enhanced comfort, safety and patient care.

“Delivering innovative solutions to service our community and being able to support the QAS in their commitment to provide, the highest possible care to the members of our community who are in their greatest time of need, is both rewarding and humbling.

The vessel, designed in consultation with QAS local officers is Australia’s most modern water borne patient care transportation.

“We are very proud of the partnership between SeaLink, QAS and shipbuilder Commercial Marine Australia (CMA). CMA’s commitment to delivering above client expectations is again evident in their commitment to deliver another meticulously finished vessel.

“Another recent build constructed with CMA, the 32m Maggie Cat built for North Queensland, was recently awarded the Baird Maritime Award for Best Small Fast Ferry Award.

SeaLink also has currently under construction for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands two new vehicle ferries. These two new vessels scheduled to enter service in the first half of 2024 will:

· increase daily capacity and improve passenger comfort

· provide more efficient operations and greater choice of services

· grow in-line with the demand from the Island communities.

“SeaLink’s total investment into new vessels for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands community will be in excess of $20M when all four vessels are in service following the launch of our new passenger ferry, Talwurrapin, in January this year” she said.

SeaLink South East Queensland General Manager, Ben Renwick said his dedicated team, on call 24/7, was ready to assist QAS paramedics so that residents could rely on this essential high care service connecting island communities with the mainland – as nothing is more essential then when patients need an urgent hospital transport connection.

The SeaLink crew recently assisted with the delivery of a new local onboard the previous ambulance ferry – a newborn baby who couldn’t wait for the mainland – which demonstrates the importance of having a modern reliable service.

“Our team here at SeaLink are locals ourselves so we know how important the essential service is that we provide, and we are all committed to providing the best possible ferry service for the entire community.”