Marine Rescue NSW completes another demanding year returning more than 10,500 people safely to shore

by Marine Rescue NSW 17 Jan 08:16 AEDT

A Marine Rescue Bermagui crew arrives on scene to assist anglers stranded 22kms offshore © Marine Rescue NSW

Greater Sydney and the Illawarra experienced a record demand for Marine Rescue services in 2024 with more than 10,500 people safely returned to shore after getting into trouble on the state's waterways.

The hard-working volunteers at Lake Macquarie in the Hunter were the busiest unit in the state completing 652 search and rescue missions and safely returning 1,261 people to shore.

In 2024, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers dealt with everything from capsized vessels to groundings.

Many of the callouts could have been prevented with better boat maintenance with engine, battery, and fuel issues accounting for 60 per cent of incidents attended by Marine Rescue NSW.

Volunteers at Marine Rescue Ballina had their busiest year on record completing 82 search and rescue missions - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Across NSW crews performed a total of 4,735 search and rescue missions, including 1,364 emergency responses, safely returning 10,539 people to shore.

Demand on the service in 2024 was just below the record 4,786 search and rescue missions conducted in 2023.

Marine Rescue NSW radio operators had a busy 2024 managing 242, 586 radio calls - with a large number managed by the 24/7 Marine Rescue NSW State Communications Centre at Belrose.

Marine Rescue NSW crews were in demand in 2024 - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Boaters are urged to follow these steps to stay safe on the state's waterways:

Log On and Off with Marine Rescue via VHF Channel 16 or use the free Marine Rescue NSW app available for iOS and Android devices.
Make sure everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket.
Make sure your vessel's engine and battery are working.
Make sure you have enough fuel and some in reserve.
Always check conditions and safety equipment.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Bermagui completed a long distance offshore assist in December - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:

"The demand on Marine Rescue NSW volunteers is constant all year-round. These volunteers play a vital role in the safety of everyone using the state's waterways 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Communities across NSW are fortunate to have such a highly skilled and dedicated team of volunteers who are rescue-ready day or night.

"I applaud our Marine Rescue NSW volunteers for their unwavering commitment to saving lives on the water, often in challenging conditions.

"Ideally we would like for all boaters to have an enjoyable day on the water and return home safely without incident."

Marine Rescue NSW crews in Greater Sydney had their busiest year on record in 2024 - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner, Alex Barrell said:

"Whether heading out on enclosed or open waters, it's vitally important for boaters to carry the correct safety equipment, always wear a lifejacket, ensure their vessel is in good working order, carry enough fuel, and continually monitor the weather. A sudden change in conditions can lead to life-threatening incidents.

"Engine and battery failure and running out of fuel are preventable issues, and boaters need to ensure their vessel is in good working order before heading out.

"Marine Rescue NSW radio operators are the link between the land and the sea. They are often the first voice heard by a boater in distress. They play a crucial role in search and rescue responses, and boaters should feel assured that Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are available around the clock."

Marine Rescue NSW vessel Lake Macquarie 31 during an offshore mission - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Other key stats:

Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 242,586 calls including 99 MAYDAYs and 61 PAN PANs and kept watch over almost 285,000 people on board more than 76,000 logged on vessels.

Breakdown of rescues across regions:

Northern Rivers **EQUAL BUSIEST YEAR MATCHING THE 353 MISSIONS CONDUCTED IN 2023** 353 search and rescue missions including 176 emergency responses with 718 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Northern Rivers units - Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba & Wooli.
Locations of highest demand were Point Danger 143, Ballina 82 and Iluka Yamba 70.
Of Note: Marine Rescue Ballina set a new unit calendar year record with 82 missions surpassing 76 set in 2023. Marine Rescue Iluka Yamba set a new unit calendar year record with 70 missions surpassing 62 set in 2022.
Mid North Coast - 386 search and rescue missions including 201 emergency responses with 805 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.
Locations of highest demand were Forster/Tuncurry 115, Port Macquarie 96 and Coffs Harbour 63.
Of note: Marine Rescue Forster Tuncurry set a new unit calendar year record with 115 missions surpassing 109 set in 2023. Marine Rescue Woolgoolga set a new unit calendar year record with 13 missions surpassing eight set in 2020. Marine Rescue Trial Bay set a new unit calendar year record with 43 missions surpassing 40 set in 2023.
Hunter/Central Coast **4TH STRAIGHT YEAR OF MORE THAN 1,100 MISSIONS** 1,393 search and rescue missions including 321 emergency responses with 2,794 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.
Locations of highest demand were Lake Macquarie 652, Port Stephens 265 and the Central Coast 240.
Of note: Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes set a new unit calendar year record with 69 missions surpassing 65 set in 2023. Marine Rescue Norah Head set a new unit calendar year record with 18 missions surpassing 13 set in 2019.
Greater Sydney **NEW REGION CALENDER YEAR RECORD, SURPASSING 1,774 IN 2023** 1,831 search and rescue missions including 258 emergency responses with 4,479 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.
Locations of highest demand were Sydney (State Communications Centre) 576, Botany Port Hacking 443, Port Jackson 236 and Middle Harbour 197.
Of note: Marine Rescue Sydney set a new unit calendar year record with 576 missions surpassing 533 set in 2022. Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking set a new unit calendar year record with 443 missions surpassing 411 set in 2023.
Illawarra **NEW REGION CALENDER YEAR RECORD, SURPASSING 481 IN 2023** 495 search and rescue missions including 230 emergency responses with 1,125 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Illawarra units - Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla & Kioloa.
Locations of highest demand were Port Kembla 162, Jervis Bay 131 and Shoalhaven 79.
Of note: Marine Rescue Jervis Bay set a new unit calendar year record with 131 search and rescue missions surpassing 111 set in 2023. Marine Rescue Sussex Inlet equalled its busiest calendar year of 60 missions set in 2023.
Monaro - 277 search and rescue missions including 178 emergency responses with 618 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Monaro units - Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes & Moama.
Locations of highest demand were Batemans Bay 125, Eden 42 and Bermagui 32.
Of note: Marine Rescue Eden set a new unit calendar year record with 42 search and rescue missions surpassing 32 set in 2022. Marine Rescue Bermagui equalled its busiest calendar year of 32 missions set in 2022.