Despite the cool weather experienced across the state last month, Marine Rescue NSW was in demand with volunteers completing 242 search and rescue missions, including 81 emergency responses.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said the skill and dedication displayed by the Service’s 3,400 volunteers meant hundreds of boaters were safely returned to shore in July.
“The rapid response from our crews ensured that almost 400 people on board disabled or distressed vessels were able to return home to family and friends after their voyage on state’s waterways didn’t go to plan,” he said.
44% of missions in July were for engine, fuel or battery issues with Commissioner Barrell highlighting that Marine Rescue NSW saw a spike in grounding incidents last month.
“Our crews responded to almost 30 groundings across the state which are avoidable incidents.
“Boaters need to be aware of the tides, the environment and the conditions to avoid grounding their vessel and potentially ending up in an emergency situation,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Eight MAYDAY and five PAN PAN calls were received last month with Marine Rescue NSW volunteers managing 15,926 radio calls through local unit bases and the Marine Rescue Sydney State Communications Centre at Belrose.
Commissioner Barrell is encouraging all skippers to make Logging On with Marine Rescue NSW part of their pre-launch routine with the Service’s volunteers keeping watch over 20,475 people on board Logged On vessels in July.
“Boaters can Log On and Off with Marine Rescue NSW either via VHF channel 16 or the free Marine Rescue app.
“Logging On provides details of your voyage so Marine Rescue NSW volunteers can keep watch for your safe return, if a boater doesn’t return as planned a search will be initiated.
“Logging On saves precious time in the event of a life-threatening emergency on our waterways,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie was the busiest of the Service’s 46 units completing 38 search and rescue missions in July. Volunteers at Marine Rescue Sydney (State Communications Centre) were kept busy with 32 responses while for the first time in Marine Rescue NSW history, Port Kembla was the third busiest unit in NSW with 16 missions.
Breakdown of July 2024 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
NORTHERN RIVERS – 26 search and rescue missions including 14 emergency responses with 46 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 8, Ballina 7, Evans Head 4
MID NORTH COAST – 19 search & rescue missions including 8 emergency responses with 39 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:
Coffs Harbour 6, Port Macquarie 4, Forster Tuncurry 3
HUNTER/CENTRAL COAST – 72 search & rescue missions including 20 emergency responses with 128 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 38, Central Coast 15, Port Stephens 14
GREATER SYDNEY – 82 search & rescue missions including 14 emergency responses with 106 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 32, Botany Port Hacking 15, Broken Bay 11
ILLAWARRA – 30 search & rescue missions including 13 emergency responses with 57 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 16, Ulladulla 5, Shoalhaven 3, Jervis Bay 3
MONARO – 13 search & rescue missions including 12 emergency response with 15 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 5, Bermagui 4, Merimbula 1, Eden 1, Narooma 1, Tuross Moruya 1
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
