Picture: stock
Marine Rescue NSW’s 24/7 search and rescue teams have ended their busiest October on record with 388 missions, including 94 emergency call-outs.
The previous October record of 384 missions was set last year.
In a statement, Commissioner Alex Barrell said their volunteer crews safely returned 875 people to shore.
“The demand for assistance from boaters and users of the state’s waterways was high last month and we expect that to continue for the remainder of spring and into summer,” he says.
“Unfortunately, mechanical failure accounted for almost half of the incidents in October. These are preventable issues, and we ask all boaters to ensure their vessel is in good working order before heading to the boat ramp and hitting the water,” he said.
Demand for their services were at a record high in the Northern Rivers and Hunter-Central Coast regions, the agency says.
Volunteers in the Northern Rivers region completed 32 search and rescue missions with nine emergency call-outs while crews in the Hunter-Central Coast responded to 127 incidents with 26 call-outs.
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
NORTHERN RIVERS: 32 search and rescue missions with nine emergency call-outs and 76 people safely returned to shore by units at Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba and Wooli. Ballina recorded the most search and rescue missions with 11, Point Danger with 10 and eight for Iluka Yamba.
MID-NORTH COAST: 23 missions with six call-outs and 54 people returned by units at Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Trial Bay, Lord Howe Island, Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Crowdy Harrington and Forster-Tuncurry. Port Macquarie had the highest number of missions with 12, four for Forster Tuncurry and two for Nambucca.
HUNTER-CENTRAL COAST: 127 missions including 26 call-outs and 270 safe returns from units based at Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Central Coast and Terrigal. The Lake Macquarie unit attended to 64 missions with 19 for Port Stephens and 18 for Central Coast.
GREATER SYDNEY: 155 missions with 24 call-outs and 380 people safe returns by units from Hawkesbury, Cottage Point, Broken Bay, Sydney State Communications Centre, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson and Botany Port Hacking. Sydney State Communications Centre had the most missions at 45 with 40 for Botany Port Hacking, 19 for Port Jackson and 17 for Middle Harbour.
ILLAWARRA: 35 missions with 17 call-outs and 57 safe returns by Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla and Kioloa units. Port Kembla had 12 missions, Jervis Bay had nine and Sussex Inlet and Shoalhaven both had six missions.
MONARO: 16 missions with 12 callouts and 38 safe returns from units at Batemans Bay, Tuross-Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes and Moama. The Batemans Bay unit had the most missions at 7 with Eden at 3 and Bermagui and Merimbula on two.
