Victoria Police float boat overhaul

Victoria's water police unit is set to go through a multi-million-dollar overhaul of its boat fleet, replacing 17 vessels in four years.

The service has issued a tender request for 11 new vessels, ranging from 5.9m to 18m long.

The boats will replace current vessels in a single streamlined process from this year with another six to be ordered in 2020, says specialist response division acting superintendent Mark Arneil.

Victoria Police would not comment on a budget for the boats because of the tender process.

However, a new 14.9m aluminium catamaran bought for the Paynesville unit in 2014 cost $2.2 million, according to a March 2014 press release by Nationals MP Tim Bull.

Acting Supt Arneil said among the boats being replaced was offshore patrol vessel VP01 Fearless, a counter-terrorism and port security vessel bought in 2006.

"We are seeking to standardise the fleet so as to have only one type of vessel at each length, i.e. 6m, 7.4m, 12m and 15m, rather than the variety that we have in the current fleet composition," Acting Supt Arneil said.

"This will allow for efficiencies in training, as operators need to be certified in the operation of each specific vessel type, and also allow for the movement of vessels across work locations."

He said the new vessels would be used in Port Phillip Bay, Gippsland Lakes, inland waterways and Victorian coastal waters.

Acting Supt Arneil said the decommissioned boats were usually sold at auction. However, they could also be donated.

The state recently gifted a former police fibreglass catamaran to a volunteer marine agency.