APRIL 13, 2016: A VESSEL which could make it easier for emergency services workers to work in floodwaters was unveiled in Cannonvale this morning and I am happy to lend my support to boat-builder and designer Steve Jandt on his project.His 6m prototype rescue catamaran, named the Jetcat, was put through its paces at Cannonvale today.Mr Jandt has designed and built a vessel that is unlike anything else available globally and the key benefits are it’s powered by jet units, so there are no propellers, and you can launch it in floodwaters and harsher conditions.He has sought input from State Emergency Service personnel and incorporated their ideas for an ideal rescue vessel into his design.I’m keen to encourage innovators like Steve Jandt who, when faced with a slowing of work for his custom-designed catamarans, took something he’s had on the drawing board for a long time and turned it into a new opportunity.What’s even better is this is an opportunity which has significant life-saving benefits.I've written to the State Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Bill Byrne to ask him to facilitate a demonstration of the Jetcat in Brisbane.Mr Jandt has already allowed SES workers and VMR volunteers in the Whitsundays to trial his rescue cat.“I’ve shown a lot of people this boat, and the response from emergency services workers in the field is ‘when can we have one’,” Mr Jandt said.“It’s received 100% endorsement and the SES has even given me a letter of recommendation for the Jetcat.“It’s stable, it can be deployed in floodwaters and it’s extremely maneuverable so you can get it into really tight places.“It can be used for a lot of different operational activities and I would like to see this out there saving people’s lives,” Mr Jandt said.Mr Jandt hopes to reach decision-makers in Brisbane because he believes the Jetcat will be an asset to emergency services workers nationally.