Our Principal Chaplain Rev Tay, assisted by our Chaplain Retchie, had the honour of sharing a maritime blessing for two new fire fighting vessels during their traditional naming ceremony at Walsh Bay recently. Sister Mary Leahy of Stella Maris sprinkled holy water (from the harbour) on the new vessels before the female patrons of ‘Burra’ and ‘Girawaa’ poured champagne on the bows of their respective vessels, officially naming them.
The Port Authority of New South Wales CEO Phil Holliday led the celebrations which publicly launched the all-Australian custom-built vessels.
A traditional smoking ceremony was conducted by Gujaga Foundation and attended by Shane Phillips from Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Corporation, followed by a commissioning by NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen.
Members of the local maritime community welcomed the new vessels which will support Maritime NSW and NSW Police in major on water operations.
Mr Holliday said these twin multipurpose vessels will help safeguard our Sydney waterways with Burra working on Sydney Harbour and Girawaa homeported at Port Botany. Each boat can pump 16,000 litres of sea water per minute – equivalent to the capacity of four large fire engines.
Reflecting a new era of working vessels built in Port Macquarie by Birdon Group, the new vessels can travel at speeds of up to 27 knots, can complete 360 degree turns, and can spray 16,000L of water per minute – the equivalent of 4 large fire engines.
One of the first civilians to board the Burra on the Harbour will be the Mission to Seafarers Christmas Raffle winner Jannion Kaufmann of Sydney, and her son and two grandchildren. Jannion is a long-term MTS supporter in honour of her seafaring father.
Thank you once again to the Port Authority for this terrific prize which raised $944 towards our 2023 Christmas Appeal.
Watch the vessel naming story on 7NEWS: https://bit.ly/3Sxnnme
Read about it in the Daily Cargo News: https://www.thedcn.com.au/region/australia/port-authority-welcomes-new-response-vessels/
Images below with thanks to Port Authority of NSW.
