Three police boats for sale after the last job during the America’s Cup

Three police boats are up for sale after spending their last time on the water with the Auckland Police Maritime Unit during the 36th America’s Cup.

Three of the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBS) had been in the water with the unit since the 2000s and had been used in the 2000 America’s Cup.

The maritime unit covers about 3,700 square kilometers.

This includes the Great Hauraki Gulf, the Thames Estuary, and associated ports and inlets.

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The addition of three new RHIBS, one of which is destined for Wellington, with more horsepower and the latest technology, means the older ones have to go.

Sergeant Garry Larsen said the boats had been in use for more than two decades and were now “in excess of requirements.”

All three new ships joined the maritime unit late last year, ahead of the America’s Cup.

The new ships will help with the unit’s daily operations, which include search and rescue work, making arrests on the water and ensuring the ships comply with maritime laws, Larsen said.

All police related equipment aboard the older RHIBS, along with the police decal, would be removed from the boats prior to sale.

“The plan to sell these boats is not new and has been underway for some time.”

Vining Marine Group was the maritime broker that secured the contract to sell the ships.

Owner Steve Raea put the old boats up for sale on Trade Me this week.

With limited berths at the Marine Rescue Center in Mechanics Bay, the old RHIBS needed to sell “fast,” he said.

A total of 329 people had added it to their watch list as of Thursday afternoon and Raea said he had received some inquiries from as far away as Australia, but there were no offers yet.

“At this stage they remain in the market and people can give the best of themselves.”

Raea admitted that its individual price of $ 150,000 was at the “higher end of its value,” but said it hoped to get the best possible result for the police.

“Ideally we would like the three boats as a package and negotiate something for a reasonable return to the police.”

Raea described the RHIBS as “very capable ships” and said they had served their purpose well, but would now be best suited for some type of commercial operator.