Sealegs Boats Support Queensland Rescue

During the devastating floods that hit Queensland in January, Auckland amphibious boat manufacturer Sealegs sent two rescue craft and crew to Brisbane.

Working alongside the SES volunteers they battled to help the thousands of people affected by the worst flooding in decades, and stayed on to help in the cleanup.

Sealegs, is the world’s largest manufacturer of amphibious boats. Part all terrain vehicle, part boat, they are the fastest amphibious boats in the world which make them an excellent rescue vehicle.

Sealegs quickly proved their worth with the first of the boats rescuing 40 people at Logan, one of the worst affected areas in conjunction with the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) rescue operations.

Tom Carlisle, Sealegs Australian representative, headed the company’s rescue contribution in Brisbane, stating that Sealegs ability to "float-drive-float-drive-float" without stopping or requiring passages to disembark when they met obstacles in the water enabled more speedy rescues and delivery of emergency supplies to properties on hills marooned by water.

"Stranded families do not have to wade through the dangerous waters to gain access to the amphibious boat - we simply drive up and they are able to board. This means that each operation we embark on is quicker and safer."

Global Sales Director, David McKee Wright said "We have sold more than 75 Sealegs amphibious boats into Australia in the last five years and over 500 worldwide, but have only recently started talking to the rescue and emergency services about our unique amphibious rescue capabilities,"

"I wish the authorities did not have to experience the capability of amphibious boats in such tragic circumstance, but delighted Sealegs is proving itself an asset on the front line of first response and rescue craft," he said.

Following the rescue operations the amphibious boats have continued to aid in the clean-up effort scouring the shallow waters of the Moreton Bay mouth for the piles of debris that litter it. Towing big flotsam to waiting tugboats in deeper water, or in one instance using its raised front wheel as a fender to manoeuvre a 12 metre concrete mooring pontoon which had broken loose, up onto dry land.

NALCO supply Sealegs with marine certified sheet and plate for their amphibious crafts.