General News
27 April, 2026
Coast Guard secures trawler
TULLY Coast Guard has had the chance to prove its newly-acquired rescue boat’s worth and test its capabilities – in a bigger way than usual.
The crew of new Tully Heads-based Coast Guard boat ‘TU21’, a 9.1-metre double ‘chine’ vessel with two 300 horsepower engines, were recently tasked by Cairns Water Police to board an unmanned, drifting vessel – a large steel trawler – off Cardwell.
Their goal was to improve the anchoring of the adrift vessel by letting out more chain, to stop the trawler ‘dragging’.
“It was a very rough trip down to Cardwell but the new vessel did exceptionally well and the double chine design worked like a shock absorber,” Tully Coast Guard posted to its members and followers on social media.
A ‘double chine’ rescue vessel offers superior performance in rough waters through increased form stability (less rolling), greater buoyancy for lifting, and enhanced side-impact resistance.
“Fortunately, the wind dropped once we arrived which made it safe enough for Don and Dan to board the vessel and see what they could do.
“They were able to release the second anchor and some chain which should help reduce the drifting.
“As soon as our two intrepid crew members got back on the boat the wind picked up leading to another fun trip back to the base.”
The ‘rescued’ vessel – a former prawn trawler once named KFV Magnetic – is believed to have drifted northward from a mooring near Cardwell. It was 400-500 metres offshore when the Coast Guard reached it.
The vessel was originally part of the old KFV Fisheries fleet operating out of North Queensland and the Gulf of Carpentaria but has changed ownership several times since it was built in the early 1970s.
“We took photos and sent them to the Cairns Water Police, who forwarded them on to Maritime Safety Queensland, who are responsible for dealing with drifting unmanned vessels,” Tully Coast Guard said after the job.
The new rescue vessel was delivered in early February and Tully Coast Guard is still in the process of completing volunteer crew training both onshore and aboard its state-of-the-art acquisition.
“All in all, a very interesting first outing for TU21 and the crew.”
Followers commented about the old trawler on Tully Coast Guard’s post.
“Once a magnificent trawler. Sad to see really,” one remarked, while another said: “It would make a good reef.”
Read More: Cardwell