Sealegs assist Australian State Emergency Service with Boat and Crew for flood rescue in Queensland
12 January 2011
New Zealand designed and manufactured Sealegs Amphibious Marine Craft, in true ANZAC spirit, is stepping in to lend a hand in conjunction with the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES)’s rescue operations.
Sealegs has loaned a 6.1m amphibious RIB and crew to work alongside the SES volunteers as they battle to help the thousands of people affected by the worst flooding in decades.
David McKee Wright, Sealegs CEO, commented, “When hearing about the devastating affects the Queensland floods have had on communities, it seemed natural that our Sealegs colleagues in Australia could offer support in a practical way. The craft is loaded with SES professional rescue equipment and its first mission was to go to Logan where there is an island with families from the 50 homes stranded. It has already completed 4 trips to and from the island, impressing the SES with its amphibious functionality.”
Due to Sealegs’ rapid response, the craft is already used by the New Zealand Coastguard, South Australia SES, as well as in other countries such as Malaysia and India for various deployment uses such as fire and rescue, police and military operations. Sealegs has previously been used in flash flood situations, as demonstrated in 2008, after a phone call from the Malaysian government requesting a Sealegs resulted in a school full of children being rescued as no other vehicle could reach them.
The Sealegs craft and its crew are scheduled to move their focus from Logan to Brisbane City this afternoon.
About Sealegs Corporation:
Sealegs is based in Auckland, New Zealand, where the Sealegs concept of amphibious boating was first invented and where they continue to be manufactured. The majority of the boats are sold and used by customers all over the world and there are now over 450 Sealegs amphibious boats in 25 countries worldwide.
Sealegs Corporation Limited is a public company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange Main Board with the ticker symbol SLG.
Sealegs Corporation owns 100% of Sealegs International Limited, the world's leading manufacturer of amphibious boats. Sealegs International has developed a patented system of hydraulically motorised, steerable and retractable wheels for amphibious boats.
For high resolution media photos see www.sealegs.com/media
ENDS / Jan 2011
