Maritime Survey Australia surveyors Thom Magnusson and Isi Lyons completed a stability assessment and periodic survey of the Danial Thain, a marine rescue vessel owned by ECA Maritime College based in Brisbane.
The Daniel Thain is an Arun Class all-weather lifeboat built in 1978 in the UK for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. She started her career serving for 21 years on the Scottish Coast out of the port of Broughty, Dundee.
Prior to her acquisition by ECA Maritime College, the Danial Thain worked as a marine rescue vessel at Marine Rescue Port Stephens, where over 17 years, along with the unit’s other vessels she was involved in more than 2000 rescues and saved more than 4400 lives. Five of these rescues saw her crew receive major national Courage Awards, including a Medal of Valour.
With an overall length of 52 feet and weighing 32 tons, she is powered by two 460 HP diesel engines and fitted with a variety of sophisticated electronics. These include a FLIR Thermal Imaging camera, a Radio Directional Finder, several GPS plotters, Radar Controls in 2 stations, and duplicated VHF and HF radios. Specially built to operate as a rescue vessel in the harsh environment of the North Sea, the Daniel Thain is one of the best equipped and safest training vessels around. She is self-righting and constructed with many watertight compartments, which makes her ideal for teaching purposes.
She is currently used as a training vessel in all courses offered by ECA Maritime College. As part of the College’s STCW course, she is filled with smoke and in mock emergency scenarios, students are required to board the vessel and locate an injured crew member. Students enrolled in engineering courses also have access to the vessel’s very well equipped and laid out engine room and engineering workshop. The Daniel Thain is also used for the activities and assessments required for the college’s Masters courses.
The vessel has come a long way since it started operating as a marine rescue vessel in the UK and ECA College staff have done an exemplary job in maintaining the vessel’s new- and original equipment to highlight the vessel’s history and show trainees some of the equipment used by mariners of the past.
A goal of ECA Maritime College is to be able to give students the opportunity of working on live projects such as surveying work, fast crew boat and port support vessel activities. For more information regarding ECA Maritime College courses, please visit www.ecamaritimecollege.edu.au.
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Our Marine Surveyors are accredited with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), members of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and members of the certifying authority of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).
We believe we have the most competitive rates offering the best value to Victorian commercial vessel operators. The benefits of using Maritime Survey Australia ensure that the vessel operator has to engage with only one company. Unlike many of our competitors, our Surveyors are experienced Marine Engineers, Masters and Naval Architects accredited for ALL categories including periodic electrical and communication meaning you do not need to engage with a third party to complete the survey.
The survey is carried out accurately interpreting standards and guidelines, and applying rules and/or regulatory requirements.
The owner will be informed of any deficiencies discovered during the survey of a vessel that requires repair, replacement or action and will be recorded on a survey activity report, a copy of which will be given the owner or owner's representative at the time of the survey. We will remain impartial in all of our business dealings, and we will never conduct business in a manner which could place our business integrity or impartiality at risk or question.
