Two volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Port Macquarie have assisted a skipper whose 20-metre vessel ran aground on the Hastings River this morning (Thursday 31 October).
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said the skipper of the disabled vessel contacted Marine Rescue Port Macquarie radio operators at 6.50am requesting assistance.
“The skipper had a navigational issue and unfortunately ran aground at the Kooloonbung Creek turn on the Hastings River.
“Volunteer crews were immediately deployed on Marine Rescue NSW vessels Port Macquarie 30 and Port Macquarie 21 to assist the grounded vessel,” he said.
“Our volunteers assessed the vessel which was a navigational hazard and with the incoming tide in motion they secured a tow line and pulled the vessel safely into deeper water,” Inspector Page said.
“It was fortunate that the vessel ran up on coffee rock which crumbles and hopefully reduced the damage to the hull.
“It is important that boaters follow navigational markers to avoid incident,” he said.
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