Boaters urged to take responsibility

With engine, battery and fuel issues accounting for two-thirds of Marine Rescue responses in February, Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell has called on boaters to stop being complacent.

Barrell said it was concerning that 67% of the missions conducted by Marine Rescue volunteers last month were for preventable issues.

All Marine Rescue personnel who give up their time at local Central Coast and Hunter bases to live up to the mission statement “saving lives on the water” are volunteers.

“Boaters need to ensure their vessel is in good working order every time they launch and that they have enough fuel on board, with some in reserve,” Barrell said.

“Please don’t think for one minute, ‘I’ve got through the season without any issues, it won’t happen to me’.

“Don’t let a preventable issue ruin your day on the water and potentially put your life and other lives at risk.”

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state completed 415 search and rescue missions last month, including 114 emergency responses, safely returning 936 people to shore.

Across the state, Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 19,013 radio calls and kept watch over more than 22,500 Logged On vessels.

Barrell said boaters should make Logging On part of their pre-launch routine by using the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF channel 16.

“Logging On provides details of their trip, and in the event they don’t return as planned, a search can be initiated,” he said.

“Logging On saves precious time in an emergency—it only takes a minute to protect a lifetime.”

The boating season began on October 1, 2024, and finishes on ANZAC Day. April 25.

A breakdown of January search and rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions revealed 118 missions in the Hunter/Central Coast region including 27 emergency responses with 266 people safely returned to shore across all eight Hunter/Central Coast units – Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Central Coast and Terrigal.

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