Australia’s Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, joined Australian Army personnel from 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR), to name a new amphibious watercraft as part of a formal ceremony on Thursday Island, in Australia’s far north. The 12.5-metre regional support craft is a sovereign-built vessel manufactured by Yamba Welding & Engineering (YWE) in Yamba, New South Wales, and will be permanently located and maintained on Thursday Island.
The Regional Support Craft’s name Kuursi means ‘hammerhead shark’ in the Kala Lagaw Ya language. An Australian Army Reserve unit, 51 FNQR is tasked to detect and deter cross-border movement in the Torres Strait region, including the movement of prohibited imports and exports, and the illegal exploitation of natural resources. The battalion is part of Regional Force Surveillance Group.
Founded in 1974 and based in regional NSW, YWE is a specialist aluminium boat builder with a thriving operation employing 36 locals, numerous apprentices and a trusted local supply chain. YWE has forged a reputation as a trusted partner to Australian and State law enforcement and maritime agencies, delivering over 200 watercraft in the past 10 years for police, Marine Rescue, Coast Guard, government agencies such as NSW Maritime, and more recently, the Australian Defence Force and Australian Border Force.
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