Pacific Responder into action
February 2007

The aptly named Pacific Responder has a job very different to that of her seven sister vessels (R Class AHTS based on the UT738 design). While the likes of Pacific Rover and Pacific Runner support various offshore oil and gas related installations on a daily basis, Pacific Responder patrols the environmentally sensitive region from Cairns to the Torres Strait acting as a dedicated Emergency Towage Vessel (ETV).

The vessel commenced an eight year charter for the Australian Government through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in 2006. She acts on emergency tasking by AMSA, should a maritime casualty occur in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Area. The vessel is also primed to respond to other marine incidents, such as pollution of the sea and search and rescue action.

Pacific Responder is also engaged in the maintenance of the aids to navigation network in its area to ensure that maritime passageways are clearly marked for navigation. However, the vessel’s rapid response capability during a shipping incident, either actual or potential, will take precedence over its role in maintenance of aids to navigation. Since her arrival on the coast of Australia in August 2006, Pacific Responder has been called into action on numerous occasions to assist vessels in distress.