Community Grant for Tamar Sea Rescue safety upgrades
Marine safety in northern Tasmania will be strengthened thanks to a TasPorts Community Grant supporting a suite of operational upgrades for Tamar Sea Rescue.
Posted
02 April 2026
Marine safety in northern Tasmania will be strengthened thanks to a TasPorts Community Grant supporting a suite of operational upgrades for Tamar Sea Rescue.
Posted
02 April 2026
Marine safety in northern Tasmania will be strengthened thanks to a TasPorts Community Grant supporting a suite of operational upgrades for Tamar Sea Rescue, a volunteer-run organisation providing 24/7 search and rescue services across the Tamar Estuary and Bass Strait.
Tamar Sea Rescue is a not-for-profit service led by 20 trained volunteers who collectively contribute thousands of hours each year. The organisation responds to emergencies across a vast and often challenging stretch of coastline, assisting Tasmania Police, Surf Life Saving Tasmania and other emergency services in breakdowns, medical incidents, vessel tows and urgent rescues.
The TasPorts Community Grant will go towards important upgrades to enhance crew safety and operational effectiveness, including fitting protective vessel clears for winter and rough-weather operations; upgrading tow-vehicle lighting to improve safety during night-time transport of rescue craft; and purchasing new lifejackets.
Andrew Wynter, TasPorts Site Coordinator at the Port of Bell Bay, said TasPorts is proud to support organisations like Tamar Sea Rescue, whose volunteers provide an essential safety net for our marine community.
“These upgrades go directly to improving safety—not just for rescue crews working in demanding conditions, but also for the people who rely on them during emergencies.
“Supporting capability improvements like these helps strengthen the broader maritime safety network across Tasmania.”
Tamar Sea Rescue Treasurer David Arnott said the grant will have immediate operational benefits.
“The upgrades we’re undertaking go straight to the heart of marine safety.
“Better lighting on our tow vehicle means safer operations at night, weather protection on our vessel helps keep our crews alert and protected during long winter rescues, and lifejackets are essential equipment for every emergency we attend.
“These improvements reduce risks for our volunteers and the people we’re rescuing,” he said.
Tasmania’s waterways remain busy year-round, with high recreational use contributing to a significant number of marine-related incidents.
Tamar Sea Rescue is often the first responder in remote or difficult-to-reach areas, providing vital support to Tasmania Police and relieving pressure on other emergency services.
The new upgrades will equip TSR volunteers with safer, more resilient gear to continue providing around-the-clock rescue capability to the northern Tasmanian boating community.
The next round of the annual Community Grant Program will feature increased funding, with grants of up to $25,000 available.
Applications open 1–31 May 2026 for projects running between July 2026 and June 2027.