Marine Rescue NSW’s 24/7 search and rescue capability enabled its highly skilled volunteers to complete a record 388 missions in October, including 94 emergency responses. This surpassed the previous busiest October record of 384 missions set in 2023.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said volunteer crews safely returned 875 people to shore during a busy month on the water.
“The demand for assistance from boaters and users of the state’s waterways was high last month, and we expect that to continue for the remainder of spring and into summer.
“Unfortunately, mechanical failure accounted for almost half of the incidents in October. These are preventable issues, and we ask all boaters to ensure their vessel is in good working order before heading to the boat ramp and hitting the water,” he said.
Two of Marine Rescue NSW’s six regions experienced record demand last month, with the Northern Rivers and Hunter Central Coast seeing their busiest October ever. Volunteers in the Northern Rivers region (Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba, and Wooli) completed 32 search and rescue missions, while crews on the Hunter Central Coast (Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Central Coast, and Terrigal) responded to 127 incidents.
Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 17,094 radio calls in October and kept watch over almost 23,500 people on board Logged On vessels.
Commissioner Barrell said Marine Rescue NSW’s free, internationally recognised app is a must for all boaters.
“Logging On provides details of a boater’s trip and ensures that our highly skilled and dedicated volunteers keep watch for their safe return. In the event a boater does not return as planned, a search will be initiated,” he said.
The Marine Rescue NSW app was recently named runner-up in the International Maritime Rescue Federation’s award for Innovation and Technology in Maritime Search and Rescue 2024.
“The Marine Rescue NSW app was designed in-house, and we are very proud of the role it plays in helping save lives on the water and providing peace of mind for boaters and their loved ones,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Breakdown of October 2024 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
NORTHERN RIVERS **Busiest October on record** – 32 search & rescue missions including 9 emergency responses with 76 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:
Ballina 11, Point Danger 10, Iluka Yamba 8
MID NORTH COAST – 23 search & rescue missions including 6 emergency responses with 54 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:
Port Macquarie 12, Forster Tuncurry 4, Nambucca 2
HUNTER CENTRAL COAST **Busiest October on record** – 127 search & rescue missions including 26 emergency responses with 270 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 64, Port Stephens 19, Central Coast 18
Volunteers at Marine Rescue Sussex Inlet assist a boater on October 28
GREATER SYDNEY – 155 search & rescue missions including 24 emergency responses with 380 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 45, Botany Port Hacking 40, Port Jackson 19, Middle Harbour 17
ILLAWARRA – 35 search & rescue missions including 17 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 12, Jervis Bay 9, Sussex Inlet 6, Shoalhaven 6
stats crew member provides update on distressed vessel at Jervis Bay
MONARO – 16 search & rescue missions including 12 emergency response with 38 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 7, Eden 3, Bermagui 2, Merimbula 2
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
