Marine Rescue Port Kembla has enhanced its search and rescue capability not only across Wollongong and Shellharbour but across the Illawarra Shoalhaven with the addition of two rescue watercraft (RWC) (jet skis) to the unit’s fleet.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the two RWCs are now operational and ready to be deployed to assist people on local waters in time for the summer holidays.
“These rescue watercraft are certainly going to enhance our operational capability on Lake Illawarra as well as for offshore rescues.
“Lake Illawarra gets a lot of traffic; recreational vessels are going to break down at various times, and people can end up in the water.
“These are rapid-response craft; they are very quick, and they can also get into areas that our normal rescue craft can’t access, particularly shallow areas,” he said.
Inspector Massey said the two RWCs are trailerable, meaning they can be transported across the region when tasked.
“Marine Rescue NSW will be able to deploy them to areas up and down the coast that might require their use, particularly for offshore search and rescue,” he said.
Marine Rescue Port Kembla has been, and continues to be, recruiting volunteer RWC operators.
Image: (L to R) Marine Rescue Port Kembla rescue watercraft operators Stuart Ward, David Mackay and Nick Kuster
“The training for rescue watercraft is comprehensive, and a certain level of fitness is required because of the nature of the craft and the operating environment,” Inspector Massey said.
“We currently have four qualified Marine Rescue NSW RWC operators at the Port Kembla unit, with four more progressing through the training programme, and we are looking for more,” he said.
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