The brand new $426,000 offshore 10M Naiad Shellharbour 30 rescue vessel will be officially commissioned on November 15 with the newly upgraded Shellharbour Marine Rescue Unit Base.

The boat has dual fuel tanks each holding 400 litres, is powered by twin 250hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard motors and can reach speeds above 40-plus knots (74 kilometres/hour). It can travel 15 nautical miles offshore, and further with clearance from Marine Area Command and includes more sophisticated radar, navigation and radio equipment.

Shellharbour 30 was delivered in June and forms part of Marine Rescue's strategic safety net of rescue vessels that cover the NSW coastline.

The rapid response vessel is one of more than 30 new and refurbished vessels delivered to date at a cost of $9 million, as part of the ongoing project to upgrade rescue fleets with funding from the state government and the boating community.

The boat, built in Yamba, is designed to help volunteers work efficiently, safely and swiftly to help boaters in trouble. It will also be used as a training platform to enable volunteers to develop boating skills up to a professional standard.