NSW Police Marine Area Command has taken delivery of another full-size RAM Truck to tow police jet skis and rigid inflatables to locations throughout the State, adding a 5.7-litre V8 Hemi 1500 Crew Cab to its Balmain-based vehicle fleet.
The Police Marine Area Command’s (MAC) responsibility extends to all coastal areas of NSW, and 200 nautical miles out to sea. They provide services similar to those carried out by land-based police, including crime prevention and detection, search and rescue.
“These trucks go everywhere in NSW with the MAC enforcement team, from Tweed Heads down to the Murray,” says NSW Police Marine Command Superintendent, Stephen Hegarty.
“The 4.5 tonne max brake towing is incredibly useful as it allows us to easily tow up to four jet skis at a time – or one of our bigger rigid inflatables – out to Dubbo, for example, for the Commissioner’s Rise Up youth program, compliance around boat safety on the water, or the South Coast to assist in the recent bush fire evacuations.”
RAM Trucks Australia began re-manufacturing left-hand full-size pickups into right-hand drive vehicles in late 2015, before they went on sale in early 2016. The latest model, the 1500 Express Crew Cab, was launched in late February 2020.
Each vehicle undergoes a thorough re-engineering process at RAM’s Melbourne Manufacturing Facility, which designs and produces right-hand drive trucks for Australia and New Zealand, including using 400 locally sourced re-manufactured parts.
It was this local manufacturing angle that appealed to Superintendent Hegarty. “That we’re able to support local manufacturing is certainly a factor in our decision-making process,” he said.
“The requirements we need to operate within means we have to be on top of our game when it comes to towing capacity and how we enforce the law – we can’t be under-weighted on tows, so the RAM 1500 fits the bill perfectly.”
With increasing commercial shipping and significant expansion in the number and type of leisure craft on our waterways, the nation’s water police are being called on to drive down marine crime, underwater search and rescue, and safety and compliance reinforcement.
Thanks to the 5.7-litre V8 Hemi engine punching out 291kW and a massive 556Nm of torque, the 1500 delivers best-in-class towing capabilities to assist the MAC in their operations.
RAM Trucks Australia national manager Jeff Barber and national fleet manager Joe Ponzo have been working closely with NSW Marine Police Command to ensure they have fit for purpose vehicles on their fleet.
This approach has now prompted additional conversations with other law enforcement agencies throughout Australia for RAM Trucks. “Is there a better fit-for-purpose vehicle out there?” said Barber.
“MAC vehicles are taken to some pretty remote locations, so there’s a requirement to be self sufficient on the road. Features like our RamBox cargo management system have been fully utilised to include a lockable gun box – a prerequisite for police work.”
RAM Trucks Australia is the world’s only factory-authorised RHD manufacturer of RAM Trucks, and Australia’s only 24-hour vehicle manufacturing facility. The RAM range starts with the 5.7-litre V8 Hemi 1500 Quad Cab from $79,950 plus on road costs.
Every RAM is backed by a three year/100,000km warranty with roadside assistance, and only requires a service every 12 months or 12,000km.
