Unit commander Sonia Teston said the new vessell - Merimbula 20 - had faster acceleration, greater range and smoother passage to greatly enhance its crew's ability to respond to emergencies on the water.

It also has a soft top canopy, which means it can go under the bridge. This will allow Marine Rescue to drop off rescued boats and boaters at the boat ramp and will also mean it can deal with any incidents in Top Lake.

Ms Teston said she was thrilled to see the new vessell arrive.

Minister for Emergency Services Steph Cooke said the new Marine Rescue Merimbula 20 vessel was the latest of 38 rescue boats funded through the NSW government's $37.6m investment.

"This wonderful new rescue vessel is a great asset not only for the Merimbula unit's volunteers, but also to the boaters who regularly enjoy this beautiful section of our state's coastline," Ms Cooke said.

"A 6.8 metre split console Naiad, with twin 140 HP Suzuki engines and a top speed of 37 knots, Merimbula 20 has the power and reliability to ensure that when every minute counts, Marine Rescue volunteers can be on the scene of an emergency as quickly as possible.

"This new vessel complements an additional rescue vessel recently delivered to Eden," Ms Cooke added.

Marine Rescue Commissioner Stacey Tannos thanked the NSW government and the boating community for their financial support for Marine Rescue NSW.

"With this support we are able to deliver our volunteers modern, safe and reliable boats like this one, purpose-built to meet local operating conditions both on Merimbula's lake and up to 15 nautical miles out to sea," Mr Tannos said.

"Merimbula 20 is easily hitched to a trailer, allowing it to be towed to wherever it is required in an emergency, giving our members more flexibility than ever."

Built in NSW by Yamba Welding Engineering, Merimbula 20 features the latest search and rescue technology, and with greater maneuverability and endurance, rescue crews will be able to search for longer.

"It is more robust than our previous boat and has greater endurance, which means we can operate more safely for longer periods and in a wider range of weather and sea conditions on local lakes and offshore," Ms Teston said.