After 5000 man hours to construct and involving the work of about 25 staff and contractors, a new model marine rescue vessel, SLR (super long rescue) 3800, will be launched in the Manning River this morning.

Over the next few weeks sea trials will be conducted so the Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry crew can familiarise themselves with the electronic and operating systems.

One of the tests will be crossing the Harrington bar in coming weeks.

The 38-foot vessel is the seventh marine rescue vessel Steber International has constructed in the past five years and has been built to the new National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV).

Operational limits are 30 miles to sea and the vessel can assist rescues from Camden Haven to Seal Rocks.

Steber's managing director Alan Steber is extremely proud of his team for their hard work.

"We have an excellent staff and management. I would like to acknowledge and thank them.

"They put in the blood, sweat and tears and they do what they can."

Many local people were involved throughout the construction process. "We have a focus on using local and Australian products," Mr Steber said.

This vessel is valued at about $800,000 and has been funded partly by the Forster community through many fundraising activities as well from the $7.50 registration and licence levy in place for some four years.

Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry is already in possession of a Steber vessel.

November 2006 saw a 34-foot Steber craft, already in service as a rescue vehicle on the far north coast, take up residence in Forster Tuncurry after an enormous fundraising effort.

Since that time the the patrol has changed from a group of men keeping tabs on one another to a well-oiled rescue division, moving from home radio bases with not many people to a state-of-the-art rescue coordination centre manned 24 hours, seven days a week with 135 members all working for the good of the boating community.

The past four years has seen even more change with the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol joining forces with other rescue organisations to form Marine Rescue New South Wales.

Steber International (Stebercraft) has been a successful family business for the past 67 years, founded by Bruce and Beryl Steber and handed down to sons Alan, Colin and Graham.

In addition to constructing the marine rescue vessel, Steber International is also working on a Northern Territory fishermen's research boat and a range of refits.

Mr Steber said they also have bids in at Oman, Dubai and Papua New Guinea and he is dealing with New Zealand and China on some business.

Steber International is well known internationally for its high quality vessels.

Currently there are four Steber-made boats in Dubai and eight in Papua New Guinea.

The vessel for Marine Rescue Forster will be launched between 9am and 9.30am on Wednesday adjacent to the rowing club on the Manning River, on the corner of River Street and Endeavour Place.

Mr Steber said Endeavour Place will be a good vantage point for members of the public to see the boat in action.