The WA Police Force will retire the aging Police Vessel Delphinus after 18 years of service.
Now nearing the end of its working life, the 28 year old PV Delphinus was originally acquired by WA Police from Customs.
PV Delphinus was deployed to the North West in 2006 to provide a preventative police presence for critical infrastructure.
The need for a permanent Water Police in the Pilbara has been reassessed given the current security environment.
Importantly, the PV Delphinus provided a limited capacity to patrol State waters given the vast area, and the speed and deployment capability of the vessel.
The Police Airwing fleet, with its specialist equipment, provides a far more effective means of patrolling our coastline and observing suspicious activity. This capability is further enhanced by our interagency partnerships and advances in technology.
In recent times, the PV Delphinus spent more time in port and undergoing maintenance than on patrol and the vessel is no longer fit for purpose.
North West Water Police will cease operation by the end of the month and staff will be relocated to other positions in the agency by the end of June.
Photo: Police Vessel Delphinus (WA Police)