Marine Rescue NSW’s 3,400 volunteers across the state were in high demand last month, responding to the organisation’s busiest March on record.
With favourable boating weather last month, Marine Rescue NSW crews performed an incredible 515 search in rescue missions with 115 of those conducted between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said four of the Service’s six regions (Greater Sydney, Mid North Coast, Illawarra and Monaro) also experienced their busiest March ever.
“Across the state our volunteers safely returned almost 1,200 people to shore with our Sydney region being the busiest with 538 people returned to shore,” he said.
The Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner said 168 of last month’s record 515 search and rescue missions were emergency responses.
“Unfortunately we are still seeing too many boaters and their vessels succumb to mechanical, fuel and battery issues with 60% of responses last month for these three preventable issues,” he said.
Commissioner Barrell said more than 8,500 boaters Logged On with Marine Rescue NSW in March while the service’s skilled radio operators managed almost 26,000 radio calls including six MAYDAYs and six PAN PANs.
“Logging On via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF marine channel 16 ensures that our dedicated volunteers keep watch for boaters and that we are monitoring their safe return.
“With a fortnight remaining in the official boating season, we are asking boaters to make sure they plan and prepare before hitting the water.
“Boaters need to ensure that their vessel is in good working order with the correct safety equipment on board and enough fuel with some in reserve before heading out,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Marine Rescue NSW historical March search and rescue statewide data
March 2024 – (NEW MARCH RECORD) 515 search and rescue missions including 168 emergency responses with 1,157 people safely returned to shore.
March 2023 – 427 search and rescue missions including 128 emergency responses with 923 people safely returned to shore.
March 2022 – 269 search and rescue missions including 85 emergency responses with 515 people safely returned to shore.
March 2021 – 278 search and rescue missions including 66 emergency responses with 571 people safely returned to shore.
March 2020 – 214 search and rescue missions including 561 emergency responses with 448 people safely returned to shore.
Breakdown of March 2024 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
NORTHERN RIVERS – 17 search and rescue missions including 8 emergency responses with 35 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 7, Ballina 4 Iluka Yamba 3
MID NORTH COAST – (MARCH RECORD) 52 search & rescue missions including 28 emergency responses with 73 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 13, Port Macquarie 9, Crowdy Harrington 8, Trial Bay 8
HUNTER/CENTRAL COAST – 138 search & rescue missions including 39 emergency responses with 300 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 55, Central Coast 37, Port Stephens 18
GREATER SYDNEY – (MARCH RECORD) 210 search & rescue missions including 35 emergency responses with 538 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 58, Botany Port Hacking 56, Port Jackson 28
ILLAWARRA – (MARCH RECORD) 58 search & rescue missions including 35 emergency responses with 127 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 18, Jervis Bay 16, Ulladulla 8
MONARO – (MARCH RECORD) 40 search & rescue missions including 23 emergency responses with 84 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 14, Eden 9, Bermagui 7
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
