A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie was activated late last night (Sunday, 23 March) to assist two boaters stranded 13 nautical miles (24km) off Swansea Heads.
Radio operators at Marine Rescue Sydney received a Pan Pan call from the skipper of an 11-metre power catamaran after both engines failed at around 10pm.
A Pan Pan call is made to indicate an urgent situation that is serious but not immediately life-threatening.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie Unit Commander Jim Wright was part of the three-person crew deployed for the mission on board Lake Macquarie 30.
“A volunteer crew was quickly assembled and headed for the location of the disabled vessel, while radio operators at Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie managed communications after they were transferred from Marine Rescue Sydney,” Wright said.
“Lake Macquarie 30 reached the disabled vessel at midnight and immediately checked on the welfare of the two crew members on board, who were both fine.
“A towline was secured to the disabled vessel before the long and slow trip back to Swansea.
“We safely crossed the bar and returned the two boaters and their vessel to a mooring on the eastern side of Swansea Bridge just before 2:30am today (Monday, 24 March).
“Thankfully, conditions offshore were reasonable, and our night training served us well.
“It was a seamless response, with excellent communication between the rescue boat, the disabled vessel, and our radio operators, who did a wonderful job,” Unit Commander Wright 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.
