A volunteer crew on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Shellharbour 30 was tasked last night following reports of a flare sighting off Windang Island on the Illawarra Coast.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said a call was received by the Marine Rescue NSW State Communications Centre from a member of the public at 8:20pm.
“A crew from Shellharbour was assembled swiftly at the request of NSW Police Marine Area Command and Shellharbour 30 was deployed to investigate.
“The report indicated a flare may have been set off approximately 300 metres off Windang Island.
“The crew on board Shellharbour 30 conducted multiple sweeps covering an area half-a-nautical mile north and south of Windang Island and half-a-nautical mile out to sea.
“Following a thorough search no persons or vessels were located and Shellharbour 30 was untasked and returned to base,” he said.
Inspector Massey said if a flare is sighted, people are urged to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
“It is important that people reporting a possible flare sighting take note of the direction and colour, that information greatly assists search and rescue crews,” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
