Marine Rescue NSW volunteers record busiest ever start to boating season
by Marine Rescue NSW 10 Nov 00:50 PST
Marine Rescue Port Jackson crews performed 30 search and rescue missions in October © Marine Rescue NSW
Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state have experienced their busiest start to a boating season on record, performing 460 search and rescue missions in October — including 130 emergency responses — and safely returning 989 people to shore.
Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said the figures were staggering and follow a record month in September, highlighting the sustained high demand for the Service's operations.
"We have seen a 19% increase in demand for our services compared with the same month last year, which was previously our busiest October.
"Our 3,500 volunteers were in high demand last month, with boaters making the most of favourable weather during the second half of the spring holidays, including the long weekend," Acting Commissioner Andrews said.
The boating season began on 1 October and runs through to ANZAC Day 2026.
"It is concerning that 44% of our responses were for engine failure. Being the start of the boating season, it is clear many skippers were caught out by a lack of maintenance and took to the water without ensuring their vessels were in good working order," Acting Commissioner Andrews said.
"It is vitally important that boaters service their engines to reduce the risk of finding themselves — and their passengers — in a potentially life-threatening situation."
Volunteers on the Mid North Coast, Hunter Central Coast, and Monaro (South Coast, Alpine Lakes & Moama) all recorded their busiest-ever October, while Greater Sydney equalled its record of 177 search and rescue missions, set in 2020.
Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 21,050 calls last month, including 15 MAYDAYs and four Pan Pans, while keeping watch over 27,390 people on board Logged On vessels.
"Boaters can Log On with Marine Rescue NSW — via our free app or on VHF Channel 16 — so we know you're out there and when you're due back. Every safe trip starts before you hit the water," Acting Commissioner Andrews said.
Breakdown of October 2025 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
NORTHERN RIVERS - 25 search & rescue missions including 14 emergency responses with 67 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 14, Ballina 3, Evans Head 3, Iluka Yamba 3
MID NORTH COAST ***REGION RECORD*** 33 search & rescue missions including 19 emergency responses with 56 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 14, Port Macquarie 5, Trial Bay 5, Crowdy Harrington 5
HUNTER CENTRAL COAST ***REGION RECORD*** 155 search & rescue missions including 34 emergency responses with 310 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Hunter Central Coast units - Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Brisbane Water & Terrigal.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:
Lake Macquarie 62, Brisbane Water 29, Port Stephens 28, Tuggerah Lakes 16
GREATER SYDNEY ***EQUAL REGION RECORD*** 177 search & rescue missions including 30 emergency responses with 413 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 57, Botany Port Hacking 32, Port Jackson 30, Middle Harbour 28
ILLAWARRA - 43 search & rescue missions including 17 emergency responses with 78 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:
Jervis Bay 10, Sussex Inlet 10, Port Kembla 8, Shoalhaven 6
MONARO ***REGION RECORD*** 27 search & rescue missions including 16 emergency responses with 65 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 13, Bermagui 5, Eden 3
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.