The refurbished 16-metre vessel will be delivered to the Marine Rescue NSW new unit on Lord Howe Island later in 2020.

There were sea trials and an induction process at Port Macquarie on Thursday, August 27.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams inspected the vessel along with Marine Rescue NSW Lord Howe Island unit commander Jim McFadyen and Marine Rescue NSW fleet manager Kelvin Parkin.

Mr McFadyen said it looked like a big boat but all kinds of conditions were experienced in the middle of the ocean after leaving the lagoon at Lord Howe Island.

He said the seas were generally rough and that was when people got into trouble.

The new unit has about 30 members drawn from the island's 250 residents.

"The members are very keen and very capable," Mr McFadyen said.

The former NSW Police launch Fearless had a complete refurbishment and refit in readiness for its role at Lord Howe Island.

Mrs Williams congratulated Birdon which she said did an incredible job on the refurbishment.

"It looks spectacular and no doubt it's going to be a fantastic asset to the Lord Howe Island community and the boaties that travel to Lord Howe Island," she said.

Mrs Williams said Lord Howe 40's extensive refit and facelift at Birdon was thanks to an investment of more than $700,000 by the state government.

"This is part of the $37.6 million the government has invested over four years to deliver Marine Rescue NSW 38 new rescue vessels, improve volunteer facilities and continue upgrading the marine radio network," she said.

Mr Parkin said the vessel was by far the largest in the Marine Rescue NSW fleet and probably the most capable in terms of reach and distance.

He said the vessel would provide the ability to assist people further offshore than previously, and with the extra capacity on deck, coupled with the towing capacity, there was scope to assist with more varied rescue scenarios in the waters off Lord Howe Island.

The vessel has a range of 200 nautical miles.

Mr Parkin said the boat had undergone a full mechanical overhaul with a new wheelhouse and flybridge console, a suite of new electronics, the realignment of the vessel's shafts and propellers and a new paint job in Marine Rescue NSW livery.

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