Marine Rescue NSW’s 3,400 volunteers across the state performed 263 search and rescue missions last month, the service’s second-busiest August since 2022, when volunteers completed 267 missions.
Marine Rescue NSW crews safely returned 526 people to shore last month with 88 of the 263 missions emergency responses.
The Greater Sydney (Hawkesbury, Cottage Point, Broken Bay, Sydney – State Communications Centre, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson, and Botany Port Hacking) and Monaro (Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes, and Moama) regions both had their busiest August on record.
Volunteers in Marine Rescue NSW’s Greater Sydney region completed 104 search and rescue missions, surpassing the previous record of 91 responses in August 2020, while crews in the Monaro region responded to 15 incidents, one more than the 14 missions completed in 2022.
Marine Rescue NSW volunteers in the Northern Rivers and Illawarra regions completed their second-busiest August in the 15-year history of the service.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said favourable weather conditions saw large numbers of boaters hitting the state’s waterways, but far too many were still succumbing to mechanical problems.
“Engine failure and flat batteries are preventable incidents with regular maintenance. Boaters need to be aware that mechanical failure can lead to a life-threatening situation. Those planning to hit the water this spring need to make sure their equipment is in good working order to avoid becoming a statistic.
“It is concerning that more than 100 vessels needed assistance on Greater Sydney waterways last month but thankfully our volunteers were able to rapidly respond and return 217 people safely to shore,” he said.
Commissioner Barrell is reminding boaters to always carry enough fuel, with some in reserve, and to monitor the weather.
“It is also vitally important that boaters have the correct safety equipment on board and always wear a personal flotation device. A lifejacket can’t help you if you don’t have one on,” the Commissioner said.
In August, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers kept watch over more than 22,000 people on Logged On vessels.
“Logging on with Marine Rescue NSW provides peace of mind for boaters and their families, knowing that our dedicated volunteers will keep watch for their safe return. Logging on is quick and can be done via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16. It only takes a minute to protect a lifetime,” he said.
Five MAYDAY and three PAN PAN calls were received last month, with Marine Rescue NSW volunteers managing 18,465 radio calls through local unit bases and the Marine Rescue Sydney State Communications Centre at Belrose.
Breakdown of August 2024 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
NORTHERN RIVERS – 23 search & rescue missions including 10 emergency responses with 47 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 13, Ballina 6, Brunswick 2, Iluka Yamba 2
**Second-busiest August since the same month in 2022 when 37 missions were completed
MID NORTH COAST – 21 search & rescue missions including 13 emergency responses with 42 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:
Forster Tuncurry 7, Port Macquarie 5, Coffs Harbour 5
HUNTER/CENTRAL COAST – 64 search & rescue missions including 17 emergency responses with 105 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 27, Port Stephens 17, Central Coast 11
GREATER SYDNEY – 104 search & rescue missions including 18 emergency responses with 217 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 35, Botany Port Hacking 26, Port Jackson 16
**Busiest August since the same month in 2020 when 91 missions were completed
ILLAWARRA – 36 search & rescue missions including 21 emergency responses with 99 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 14, Jervis Bay 7, Shoalhaven 6
**Second-busiest August since the same month in 2022 when 37 missions were completed
MONARO – 15 search & rescue missions including 9 emergency response with 16 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 (all time August record), Bermagui 2
**Busiest August since the same month in 2022 when 14 missions were completed
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
