Update Monday 14th August 2023 – 3:12 pm
A volunteer crew on board Martine Rescue NSW vessel Botany Port Hacking 30 has been stood down from the multi-agency search for a man feared missing while rock fishing in the Royal National Park.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said BH 30 began to return to base just after 12pm.
“Conditions were deteriorating with the wind and swell increasing.
“The rain also made visibility poor.
“The crew on board BH 30 conducted multiple legs of a parallel coastal search pattern from the northern end of Wattamolla Beach to the northern end of Garie Beach,” Inspector Raymond said.
Monday 14th August 2023 – 10:21 am
A volunteer crew on board Marine rescue vessel Botany Port Hacking 30 resumed the multi-agency search for a missing rock fisherman off the Royal National Park at 9am today.
Botany Port Hacking 30 skipper Brad Whittaker said conditions are poor on the Illawarra Coast.
“There is one-and-a-half metres of south swell and 15 knots of southerly wind which is expected to increase across the day.
“It’s a lumpy swell and it’s raining,” he said.
Mr Whittaker said the Marine Rescue NSW crew is conducting a parallel line search with Surf Lifesaving NSW support skis.
“We are searching from Wattamolla Beach down to Garie Beach,” he said.
Sunday 13th August 2023 – 4:52 pm
Volunteers on board Marine Rescue vessel Botany Port Hacking 30 spent six hours today (Sunday August 13) assisting Marine Area Command in a search for a missing rock fisher off the Royal National Park.
The rock fisher is believed to have been swept off rocks at Garie Beach late yesterday.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said the BH 30 crew began parallel line searching with Water Police at 9am.
“They spent six hours searching from Burning Palms up to Jibbon Head.
“BH 30 was stood down for the day at 3pm after searching an area of approximately 20 square nautical miles offshore.
“Marine Rescue NSW volunteers will be back on board Botany Port Hacking 30 tomorrow (Monday August 14) with the crew to resume the multi-agency search at 8am.
Sunday 13th August 2023 – 10:20 am
A volunteer crew on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Botany Port Hacking 30 is this morning assisting Marine Area Command with a search for a missing rock fisher who was reportedly swept off rocks at Garie Beach in the Royal National Park late yesterday.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said Botany Port Hacking 30 was deployed at 9am this morning following a request from Marine Area Command.
“The Marine Rescue NSW crew is conducting a parallel line search off the coast with Water Police.
“They are searching from Jibbon Head, south to Burning Palms,” Inspector Raymond 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.
To keep up to date with all marine industry news visit www.marinebusinessnews.com.au
