Busy boating season for Marine Rescue

The Central Coast recorded the second highest number of Marine Rescue missions in NSW during the recently completed boating season.

It was the organisation’s second busiest boating season on record with 3,242 search and rescue missions, including 921 emergency responses between October 1, 2023, and Anzac Day this year.

This season’s figure was just shy of the record 3,251 missions completed during the 2022/23 boating season.

The Lake Macquarie unit recorded the highest number of search and rescue missions with 441, followed by Central Coast with 201 and Port Stephens with 183 missions.

“Log Ons remained steady with just over 45,000 boaters using the free Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16 to notify Marine Rescue NSW of their voyage,” Central Coast Unit Commander Ian Morrow said.

“Logging On saves vital time in the event of an emergency and ensures our volunteers keep watch for a vessel’s safe return.

“It a boater doesn’t return from their voyage as planned, a search will be initiated.

“While the official boating season is over, we know it is a year-round activity and we are reminding boaters who plan on heading out on the water, particularly over these colder months, (to ensure) they have the right safety equipment and have logged on with their local Marine Rescue NSW base.”

Of all activities undertaken during the season’s 3,242 rescue missions, 44 per cent involved boaters either cruising or fishing while Marine Rescue NSW crews responded to 125 capsized vessels.

“It is vitally important that everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket and if your boat overturns please stay with your vessel,” Morrow said.