Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state have completed a record financial year of rescue missions surpassing the previous mark set in 2020/21.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said the service’s 3300 volunteers were involved in 4,548 rescue missions between 1 July 2022 and June 30 this year compared to 4,251 in 2020/21.
“Rescues for the past 12 months are up around 7.5% on our previous busiest record set in the year 2020/2021.
“Our volunteers safely returned over 10,000 boaters to shore during the 22/23 financial year.
“Their commitment to keeping boaters safe on New South Wales waterways and in some cases during extremely challenging conditions has been exemplary,” the Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner said.
Emergency responses for the financial year were up by 12% compared to 20/21.
Fishing was the main activity at the time of incidents over the last 12 months while mechanical failure, flat batteries and running out of fuel were most common reasons for assistance.
“Boaters need to remember that mechanical and fuel issues can lead to dangerous situations becoming life-threatening, it is vital that boaters check and service their vessels often,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 250,123 radio calls over the financial year with a large portion handled by the State Communications Centre at Belrose.
“Marine Rescue radio operators have managed a large volume of traffic over the last 12 months.
“This is a testament to their skill and professionalism, keeping boaters safe on the water,” the Commissioner said.
Commissioner Barrell also confirmed that Marine Rescue NSW experienced its busiest June on record with 315 rescues, a third of which were emergency situations.
The Hunter/Central Coast’s Lake Macquarie unit was the busiest in NSW with 41 rescue missions last month while the Botany Port Hacking unit was involved in 26 making it the busiest of the Greater Sydney units.
Port Kembla was the busiest of the Illawarra units with 11 rescue missions, the Ballina unit had the most demand on the Northern Rivers with 10, Batemans Bay led the eight Monaro units with 10 while the Port Macquarie unit had nine rescue missions on the Mid North Coast.
Three busiest units in each region 22/23 financial year rescue missions
NORTHERN RIVERS
Point Danger 158, Ballina and Iluka Yamba 66 each, Brunswick 30
MID NORTH COAST
Port Macquarie 94, Forster Tuncurry 87, Coffs Harbour 75
HUNTER/CENTRAL COAST
Lake Macquarie 647, Port Stephens 283, Central Coast 254
GREATER SYDNEY
Botany Port Hacking 359, Port Jackson 246, Middle Harbour 194
ILLAWARRA
Port Kembla 160, Jervis Bay 115, Shoalhaven 68
MONARO
Batemans Bay 115, Eden 40, Merimbula 29
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