Volunteers from Marine Rescue NSW’s 46 units across the state safely returned 918 people to shore in February, completing 440 search and rescue missions including 141 emergency responses.
Five Marine Rescue NSW units based in the Greater Sydney region (Sydney – State Communications Centre, Botany Port Hacking, Port Jackson, Middle Harbour and Cottage Point) were among the 10 busiest in the state while the Hunter/Central Coast’s Lake Macquarie unit completed the most search and rescue missions last month with 73 responses.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said just over 60% of incidents in February were for mechanical, fuel or battery issues while volunteers responded to 21 capsized vessels including two rollovers on the Ballina Bar and an overturned catamaran at Port Stephens.
“If your vessel capsizes, it becomes a life-threatening situation very quickly.
“It is important that you have your lifejacket on, that you stay with your vessel and if you do become separated that you stay together.
“If you can, get out a distress call. You can do this over VHF radio if you still have access to it and it is still working or you can try your mobile phone.
“It is important that you have Logged On with Marine Rescue NSW because if you don’t return as planned and you go over your Log Off time, Marine Rescue will start looking for you,” he said.
In February, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers kept watch over 6,152 vessels that Logged On with the Service either via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16 while radio operators managed 19,618 calls including 14 MAYDAYs and 6 PAN PANs.
Commissioner Barrell said a few simple steps by boaters could go a long way to ensuring a safe and enjoyable day on the state’s waterways.
“It is important if you’re heading out on the water that you have the right safety equipment for your voyage, you’ve got enough fuel for your trip, you’ve Logged On with your local Marine Rescue NSW base and importantly you’ve checked the local weather conditions.
“It has been an extremely busy last few months for our volunteers and I want to thank each of them for their continued dedication to making sure that we are saving lives on the water,” he said.
Breakdown of February search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
Northern Rivers – 29 search and rescue missions including 21 emergency responses with 54 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Northern Rivers units – Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba & Wooli.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Point Danger 14, Ballina 5, Iluka Yamba 5
Mid North Coast – 34 search & rescue missions including 27 emergency responses with 67 people safely returned to shore across all 9 Mid North Coast units – Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Trial Bay, Lord Howe Island, Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Crowdy Harrington & Forster Tuncurry.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Port Macquarie 10, Forster Tuncurry 8, Coffs Harbour 6
Hunter/Central Coast – 126 search & rescue missions including 29 emergency responses with 217 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Hunter/Central Coast units – Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Central Coast & Terrigal.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Lake Macquarie 73, Port Stephens 25, Central Coast 15
Greater Sydney – 173 search & rescue missions including 20 emergency responses with 403 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Greater Sydney units – Hawkesbury, Cottage Point, Broken Bay, Sydney – State Communications Centre, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson & Botany Port Hacking.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Sydney – State Communications Centre 49, Botany Port Hacking 47, Port Jackson 23
Illawarra – 40 search & rescue missions including 19 emergency responses with 87 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Illawarra units – Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla & Kioloa.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Port Kembla 12, Jervis Bay 10, Shoalhaven 7
Monaro – 38 search & rescue missions including 25 emergency responses with 90 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Monaro units – Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes & Moama.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Batemans Bay 13, Bermagui 8, Eden 5
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
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