Marine Rescue NSW Praises Boaters For Making Smart Decisions In May

Marine Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Darren Schott has praised boaters across the state for heeding advice about monitoring weather and sea conditions last month resulting in the Service’s quietest May since 2020.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state completed 203 search and rescue missions last month, including 70 emergency responses with crews safely returning 363 people to shore.

Deputy Commission Schott said it was extremely pleasing that boaters didn’t put themselves or others at risk for a day on the water with numerous days of unfavourable weather last month.

“It is important that boaters make smart decisions before going out on the water,” Deputy Commissioner Schott said.

“If you get to the boat ramp and conditions have deteriorated, do not head out.

“Boaters can easily monitor weather and conditions on the free Marine Rescue NSW app which is where they can also log on to ensure our volunteers keep watch for their safe return.

“Engine failure accounted for 40 per cent of our responses and we are reminding all boaters to ensure they check their vessel and equipment before their voyage.”

Marine Rescue NSW radio operators managed 15,481 radio calls last month including six MAYDAYs and three PAN PANs while the Service’s volunteers kept watch over 4,484 vessels that logged on with the Service either via the Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16.

Last month was the quietest May for Marine Rescue NSW since May 2020 when volunteers completed 152 search and rescue missions.

There were 74 search and rescue missions conducted in the Greater Sydney area, including 15 emergency responses with 125 people safely returned to shore across all seven Greater Sydney units - Hawkesbury, Cottage Point, Broken Bay, Sydney - State Communications Centre, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson and Botany Port Hacking.

The number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demandinclude Sydney State Communicationis Centre, 34, Botany Port Hacking, 20, and Part Jackson, 8.

• Topics:

• Emergency Services
• Water Safety