Volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Jervis Bay received a MAYDAY call just before 9 a.m. this morning (Wednesday, 5 March), reporting that a vessel with four males on board was taking on water and at risk of sinking two nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Bowen Island off Jervis Bay.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said a volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Jervis Bay was quickly assembled, and rescue vessel Jervis Bay 41 was deployed for the mission.
“Jervis Bay 41 arrived on the scene and immediately transferred the four males on board the rescue vessel. They were uninjured.
“The JB 41 crew then rafted the disabled six-metre centre console boat to the rescue vessel and began moving to shallow waters while pumping out excess water.
“An Australian Federal Police (AFP) crew arrived to assist, and while the disabled vessel was being transferred from JB 41 to the AFP boat, it was inundated and capsized in waters off the Hole in the wall, just south of Murrays Beach boat ramp” he said.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Jervis Bay 41 then safely returned the four anglers to Murrays Beach boat ramp,” Inspector Massey said.
As Jervis Bay 41 was returning to base, the crew was tasked with assisting three boaters stranded eight nautical miles (15 km) off Point Perpendicular after their vessel lost propulsion.
Inspector Massey said conditions off Jervis Bay were not favourable for boating today.
“A hazardous surf warning is in place, with the Illawarra Coast feeling the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Marine Rescue NSW is urging boaters to stay off the water until conditions improve,” he said.
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