Police Vessels rejuvenated at Rivergate
The expert project management team at Rivergate Marina & Shipyard has just completed the 10-year life extension program for two of the Queensland Water Police vessels, the QPV Brett T. Handran and QPV W. Conroy.
QPV W. Conroy was one of a fleet of three, built by Austal.
Both series 1, built in 2009 by Austal Ships as a fleet of three vessels, they are familiar sights in the Torres Straits and Moreton Bay.
The 10-year life extension service is a complex overhaul of what is an extremely high-tech, purpose-built vessel. Rivergate won the competitive tender for the QPV W Conroy based on their performance upgrading the QPV Brett T. Handran.
22-metre aluminium catamaran QPV Brett T Handran was named after Plain Clothes Constable Brett T. Handran who died in the line of duty in 1989, while QPV W. Conroy was named in honour of Senior Constable William Conroy who died in the line of duty in 1895.
The vessels are ‘police stations on water’, with all facets required for police enforcement including drug and alcohol testing, arrest facilities, property management and special emergency response capabilities. They use a high efficiency hull shape which reduces fuel consumption and allows them to travel in all sea states.
During their stay at Rivergate, the scope of works impacted nearly every system onboard the vessels. The project included removing and replacing both main engines and generators, replacing propeller shafts and bearings, removing rudders and replacing bearings, replacing fire insulation in both engine rooms and refitting all engine room wiring and pipework.
The engine rooms were cleaned and coated with corrosion protection. On deck, the external cork decking was removed and replaced. Six internal bulkheads were also removed and replaced. Door rubber was replaced on all doors and hatches and six watertight hatches were replaced with larger hatches.
The anchor chain was replaced and the anchor pockets were modified to accommodate the new anchors.
Inside, all internal carpets were removed and replaced, along with the curtains and new satin ‘Black Out’ areas around windows and stainless steel wire handrails.
The ride control systems were overhauled and life rafts serviced. The tender launch cradle was repaired and serviced, as were all ropes. Repairs were carried out on the vessels’ electronic navigation equipment, propellers were balanced and two Unleaded Petrol tanks were modified.
On the QPV W. Conroy, air conditioner units were replaced and sandblasting and replacing primer and antifouling were undertaken before clear coating anticorrosion was applied. New signage on both vessels completed the job.
Commenting on the work, the Queensland Police Service said: “The Queensland Water Police have a long-standing working relationship with Rivergate Marina & Shipyard ranging from previous fit-outs and maintenance slippings of vessels”.
“The works performed during this project were completed to a high standard and will greatly increase the projected life of the QPS vessels, in turn enhancing the safety of the Queensland maritime community.”