State Operations Group Update

February 4 2025

With over 110 SOG Endorsed Field Operators and all SOG assets either operational across the state or undergoing final delivery checks, Marine Rescue NSW now has a turn-key on-water flood rescue capability. As we bed in the new activation and deployment processes, we have also introduced streamlined maintenance and inspection arrangements to manage SOG assets using QR codes. The process uses existing MRNSW systems of Otter and Themis to track the location and operational readiness of all SOG assets and supports our operational response to flood operations. More information on this is being supplied to SOG members and units that have current SOG vessels, vehicles or cached equipment allocated to them.

Key to maintaining member safety and the readiness of the SOG vessels is understanding the vessels operational limitations. Since the rollout of the vessels we have had a number of enquiries on what can and cannot be done with SOG vessels, and the following information is provided for clarity on some of the issues raised.

While SOG vessels have a wide business-as-usual capability, they are primarily designed as flood response vessels. The following points should be kept in mind by all vessel rated members when using a SOG vessel, be that in flood operations, training, exercising or normal operational response operations:

All SOG vessels (MPVs and IRBs) are in 2D Survey which limits their operations to partially smooth waters and should not cross an open water line. Where a local SOLAS response requirement outside of this plying limit is identified, you must consult your Zone Duty Operations Manager.
MPVs may operate with their bow door down only to the horizontal when performing a functional task, and only where no risk of deck overtopping is presented. MPVs should never be making way whilst the bow door is partially submerged as significant risks are posed by this practice. These risks include overloading the door cable, striking submerged debris, ground or other obstacles, and swamping the deck that could destabilise the vessel.
No persons should be transferred from one vessel to another while either vessel is underway – sometimes referred to as a ‘hot transfer’. This practice is not endorsed by MRNSW in normal operations, and no exemption for the practice exists for SOG vessels or SOG Endorsed members in any flood response activity be that training, exercising or deployments.

Stay tuned for some updates on training and upcoming readiness exercises!

June 4 2024

State Operations Group capability update:

Over 7 MRNSW Units now have some level of capacity to support a request for assistance for on-Water Flood Rescue Operators (FRO) in either a localised or coordinated flood operation deployment. Only SOG Field Operator Endorsed Members may deploy as on-Water FROs. Part of the SOG endorsement training is the SOG Field Operator Induction course, 3 more of which are scheduled this month from Tuross/Moruya and Sussex Inlet in the south, up to Broken Bay. This should see the 38 existing SOG Endorsed Field Operators more than double in numbers, and spread across more than 20 Units. More SOG Field Operator Induction courses are planned for July and August in Central and Northern Zones.

One of the State Rescue Board requirements for all On-Water FROs – regardless of the agency to which they are attached – is to complete a land-based swift water rescue and recovery course (PUASAR001). We hold our Members safety paramount as all rescue agencies do, and this course is for when things don’t go quite to plan. So far 110 of our 180 SOG trainees have completed this course and so far another 15 are booked in over coming months. Well done to them! There are more (but limited) opportunities on offer that will provide for all remaining SOG Members to be trained in this valuable skillset.

Why haven’t I seen SOG training advertised?

SOG training opportunities and other activities are communicated directly to those Members who have specifically expressed an interest in joining the SOG as an on-water flood rescue operator. These opportunities are not advertised generally as there are a number of pre-requisites to be completed before being enrolled in either the land based swift/flood rescue or SOG Field Operator courses, and delivery involves interagency arrangements and management.

Specific flood rescue equipment and PPE continue to be received and prepared for delivery in line with the SOG vessel and vehicle roll out schedule. Our medium IRBs have completed sea trials and are being equipped for delivery to identified Units. Our have experienced some supply chain delays impacting expected delivery dates.

I missed the original recruitment or never really considered the SOG before. Am I too late?

As we continue to build our SOG capability, so too we remain on the lookout for enthusiastic, energetic and capable team-player members to maintain an ongoing operational capacity. If think you may still be interested contact the Manager Capability via email at capability@marinerescuensw.com.au or have a chat to a SOG member near you!

20 May 2024

The State Operations Group development has gathered momentum as it continues to build its Field Operator capability by delivering internal and external training opportunities to its members. We now have 38 fully qualified and endorsed SOG Field Operators across 7 Units. These Members are able to respond in accordance with the State Rescue Policy requirements in support of NSW SES flood rescue operations if formally requested. Several more SOG Field Operator training courses are planned for next month with another 40-50 participants expected.

Specific flood rescue equipment and PPE is being received and cached for SOG vessel and vehicle allocations. So too, SOG-Endorsed Members will receive their fit-for-purpose flood rescue PPE in coming months.

Currently 5 new medium IRBs are undergoing sea-trials and being readied for delivery to Units by Fleet. These IRBs, along with the arrival of the 5 remaining Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) and 3 small IRBs also ordered will supplement the 3 MPVs already delivered and see us reach our full On-Water flood rescue vessel capability as funded under the Flood Rescue Enhancement Program. Support vehicles to facilitate SOG deployment have also been received and will be delivered in coming weeks.

More updates coming soon!

6 May 2024

Marine Rescue NSW is expecting delivery of its remaining flood vessel and support vehicle fleet in May and June. This coincides with the delivery of remaining 2023-24 planned SOG Induction and externally run, flood-rescue specific training. This is expected to provide MRNSW with approximately 130 fully trained and State Rescue Policy compliant On-Water Flood Rescue Operators, known in MRNSW as SOG Field Operators . These members will be capable of deploying anywhere in the state if requested by NSWSES to provide direct on-water flood rescue or support operations capability and assist flood affected communities with any of our 16 SOG vessels, 10 support vehicles and flood-rescue specific equipment and PPE.

To date 90 members have successfully completed the Land-based flood and swift water self-rescue course, with another 39 due to complete this by June 30. These course have been delivered by our partner agencies NSW SES and F+RNSW across multiple natural environment locations from Bermagui in the south to Tweed Heads in the north, as well as Penrith White Water Stadium in Sydney.

A prerequisite for undertaking the self-rescue course has been the SOG Fit-For-Role assessments comprising swim and physical assessments. To date 114 Members have successfully completed these assessments so far and Members are encouraged to consider undertaking them if they feel up to it, regardless of their involvement in SOG. Your Unit Training Officer can assist in the scheduling of the swim tests and fitness assessments with your Zone Training Manager.

Other required trainings our SOG members undertake include the online Flood Rescue Awareness (FRA) and Electrical Safety modules which has seen a much wider uptake than expected. So far 223 of the 339 Members enrolled have completed FRA, and 82 of the 191 enrolled have completed the Electrical Safety. If you’re a SOG member who hasn’t completed your online modules don’t delay; the sooner you do the sooner you may be Endorsed as a SOG Field Operator! If you are just interested in expanding you knowledge in this space you may enrol at any time via the Member’s Learning Portal on our web page.

Vessel Rated Members still interested in being part of the SOG should contact capability@marinerescuensw.com.au for more information on requirements and training opportunities.

5 February 2024

Marine Rescue NSW continues to develop its On-Water flood rescue capability through progression of our Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) and IRBs builds, and the recruitment and training of its State Operations Group (SOG) members.

To date, MRNSW has had 41 Members successfully complete the Perform land based swift water and flood water rescue and recovery course (PUASAR001) at Penrith White Water Stadium or an approved natural environment, with another 10 expected by the end of February. There will be further opportunities for Members to undertake this course in coming months through to June, when courses will suspend over the winter months, recommencing in September.

In line with the State Rescue Board’s hierarchy of flood rescue response and training requirements, this course is required to be completed by all Land-based and On-Water Flood Rescue Operators (FRO). It is therefore sometimes referred to by NSW SES as the ‘Land Based’ flood rescue course. It is also commonly referred to as simply ‘Penrith’, though other courses such as the In-Water FRO are also conducted there.

The Penrith course is but one of the requirements under State Rescue Policy to be deployed as an On-Water FRO. All MPV and IRB operators (Crew and above) deployed into a flood operation will be trained to On-Water FRO level, and therefore need to undertake this once-off training. This training applies to all FROs regardless of which agency you belong to; MSW SES, NSW Police Force, Fire+Rescue NSW, RFS, etc

Whilst the other components of SOG training continue to be refined, developed and rolled out, it is the ‘Penrith’ course that has generated most discussion, and raised some questions from interested Members and observers across our Units.

The main issues raised have been around the swimming ability and fitness level required to undertake the Penrith course and perform SOG duties, and just how physically and mentally challenging the course actually is. Questions like; Why are these assessments being introduced? Am I fit enough? Am I strong enough, Am I too old? Will I pass the course?

To place into context this course and its true value to SOG members, it should be appreciated that the operating environment for SOG members may see them performing many tasks of physical repetition or other challenges such as:

loading and unloading during resupply operations,
improvised launching and retrieving including winching, etc., of trailered vessels in challenging environments,
assisting evacuated persons or animals into and off vessels,
recovering persons or animals from flood water (flood rescue), and if things go badly wrong,
self-rescuing from flood water.

It is this last point that, on risk assessment by NSWSES and State Rescue Board working groups, the Penrith course is designed to provide On-Water FRO’s the skills to deal with unexpectedly finding themselves in fast flowing flood water – always a potential risk when operating in such an environment.

There is NO age limit for attending the Penrith flood rescue course, but there are minimum standards of fitness and swimming capability. There is also a self-appraisal on physical suitability to ensure we do not place Members at unnecessary risk of physical injury. When undertaking any higher-level physical activity there is always the potential for injury. Everyone’s individual capacity to recover from physical injury – be it a strain or worse – is informed by many factors which includes their current medical and physical health & condition, their medical and injury history, and, their age.

What can you expect the Penrith flood rescue course to look like? Check out this video.

To support our Members in making informed personal decisions on their suitability to undertake SOG training and duties, we have rolled out the SOG Fit-For-Role Self-Assessment Declaration, the SOG Fitness Assessment and the SOG Swim Test, all of which are prerequisites for SOG Members before attending Penrith or a natural environments flood rescue course, and may be found on Otter under MR Training>SOG. These measures also provide all Members – and their MR and external agency colleagues with whom they may deploy – an assurance that they can have the same expectation of other SOG members fit-for-role capability in any deployment they encounter, or be capable of self-rescue should the need arise.

To date, over 70 members and staff have successfully completed the Fitness Assessments and Swim Tests – some of whom are not SOG members – with many expressing the benefit of the assessments to their personal their health and fitness levels and regime.

Fitness Kits have been rolled out and are now located at key SOG asset locations across the state in coming weeks; your Zone staff will be across these locations, and they may be moved about between Units to support requests. If you are interested in knowing more or undertaking the Fitness Assessments or Swim Test, or just learning more about SOG contact your Zone staff or Capability directly at capability@marinerescuensw.com.au

16 January 2024

MRNSW continues to develop its On-Water flood rescue capability through progression of our Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) and IRBs builds, and the recruitment and training of its State Operations Group (SOG) members.

As of this Newsletter’s publication, MRNSW has had 41 Members successfully complete the Perform land based swift water and flood water rescue and recovery course (PUASAR001) at Penrith White Water Stadium or an approved natural environment, with another 10 expected by the end of February. There will be further opportunities for Members to undertake this course in coming months through to June, when courses will suspend over the winter months, recommencing in September.

loading and unloading during resupply operations,
improvised launching and retrieving including winching, etc., of trailered vessels in challenging environments,
assisting evacuated persons or animals into and off vessels,
recovering persons or animals from flood water (flood rescue), and if things go badly wrong,
self-rescuing from flood water.

To support our Members in making informed personal decisions on their suitability to undertake SOG training and duties, we have rolled out the SOG Fit-For-Role Self-Assessment Declaration, the SOG Fitness Assessment and the SOG Swim Test, all of which are prerequisites for SOG Members before attending Penrith or a natural environments flood rescue course. These measures also provide all Members – and their MR and external agency colleagues with whom they may deploy – an assurance that they can have the same expectation of other SOG members fit-for-role capability in any deployment they encounter, or be capable of self-rescue should the need arise.

Fitness Kits will be located at key SOG asset locations across the state in coming weeks; your Zone staff will be across these locations, and they may be moved about between Units to support requests. If you are interested in knowing more or undertaking the Fitness Assessments or Swim Test, or just learning more about SOG contact your Zone staff or Capability directly at capability@marinerescuensw.com.au