New patrol vessel for Murujuga
A newly-constructed 5.8m rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) is almost ready for delivery to Murujuga in northern WA where Rangers plan to use it to use caring for land and sea country, including for patrols, monitoring, and research.
Rock Art Monitoring Senior Ranger Glen Aubrey and National Park Ranger Malik Churnside took it for trials recently, off Perth and up the Derrbarl Yerrigan (the Swan River).
The custom design features artwork by Ranger Jade Churnside.
The vessel requires final fit out but will be in pertinent within weeks.
The Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation thanked the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for allowing Brad Daw – skipper of a similar vessel, the Ardenna at Barrow Island – to support the trials.
“Brad’s experience with this vessel design has been invaluable,” they said.
Rangers are well on their way to earning a Certificate II in Water Sampling and Measurement.
“We also thank our sponsors, the State Government via Lotterywest and Woodside Energy, for funding this vital new asset.”
Meanwhile, Murujuga and Yindjibarndi Rangers are well on their way to earning a Certificate II in Water Sampling and Measurement, thanks to hands-on training delivered by North Regional TAFE and Pilbara Ranger Network.
Over four days the Rangers learned how to test water quality using scientific tools – measuring salinity, temperature, oxygen levels, and more.
“We are testing the water to see if it would have been good for the Ancestors to drink,” MAC Ranger Operations Manager Peter Cooper said.
TAFE Aquaculture Lecturer Ben Little travelled from Broome to deliver the training.
