Sealegs & Queensland SES assists Logan households alongside Bert van Manen, Federal Member of Parliament

Continuing with the rescue operations in conjunction with Queensland State Emergency Service (SES), the New Zealand designed and manufactured Sealegs Amphibious Marine 6.1 RIB has been described as ‘invaluable’ to the stranded Logan residents and impressed local MP, Bert van Manen.

At the helm is Tom Carlisle, one of the Sealegs team in Australia based at Sirocco Marine North, who after the best part of 14 hours continuous rescue operations said that, “Due to Sealegs’ unique amphibious qualities our rapid response craft is able to achieve the same work load of 3-4 normal boats. Stranded families do not have to wade through the dangerous waters to gain access to the boat – we simply drive up and they are able to board. This means that each operation we embark on is quicker and safer.”

Water levels in Logan have swollen to even fuller levels than originally anticipated. The Sealegs 6.1m amphibious RIB took Bert van Manen, the Federal Member of Parliament for the District of Forde, out this morning to view the flood damage first hand. He was personally able to lend a hand to some of the stranded families, helping them to the safety of the main land, and was generous in his praise regarding the positive impact a Sealegs amphibious craft has had on the rescue operations thus far.

This afternoon the Sealegs amphibious RIB has moved on to Brisbane to initially do an assessment run in order to ascertain the level of operation they will be required to fulfil in conjunction with the rescue crews, after which they are expected to return to Logan tomorrow morning.

Pictures: Bert van Manen, the Federal Member of Parliament for the District of Forde, with the Queensland SES volunteers and the crew of the Sealegs, out this morning to view the flood damage in Logan first hand.