Marine Rescue NSW volunteers complete second-busiest August on record

by Marine Rescue NSW 11 Sep 2024 22:32 PDT

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers © Marine Rescue NSW

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.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

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.