Fewer rescues, smarter boaters: Marine Rescue NSW sees drop in March missions

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers completed 108 emergency responses in March © Marine Rescue NSW

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state experienced their quietest March since 2022, completing 348 search and rescue missions, including 108 emergency responses last month.

"Whilst missions were down this March and we would like to see that trend continue, Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state still returned 799 people to shore," said Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell.

Marine Rescue NSW crews safely returned 799 people to shore last month - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

"Engine and battery failure accounted for just over 50% of responses in March. Boaters can help reduce these incidents by ensuring their vessels undergo regular maintenance," he said.

March missions by year

2025: 348
2024: 515
2023: 427
2022: 270

Commissioner Alex Barrell praised boaters for not going out on the water during several days of dangerous conditions in March, when Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused hazardous weather along a large stretch of the NSW coast early in the month.

"Boaters heeded the warnings and did not put their lives or others at risk by venturing out. We thank them for monitoring the weather and making smart choices.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on board Brunswick 30 respond to an offshore assist - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

"During that time, almost 30 Marine Rescue NSW flood rescue and support volunteers were deployed across the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers to assist communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred," Commissioner Barrell said.

Almost 30 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers were deployed across the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast areas to assist communities impacted by ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Marine Rescue NSW radio operators kept watch over more than 19,500 people on board 5,842 logged on vessels and managed 18,797 radio calls last month including eight MAYDAYs and three PAN PANs.

"It was wonderful to see almost 6,000 vessels use our free Log On, Log Off service in March," Commissioner Barrell said.

"It takes a boater just one minute to Log On via the Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF channel 16, it ensures our volunteers keep watch for their safe return," he said.

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie was the busiest unit in the state with volunteers completing 52 search and rescue missions while the Tuggerah Lakes (12 missions), Cottage Point (15 missions) and Ulladulla (8 missions) units all experienced a busy March.

Breakdown of March 2025 search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:

Northern Rivers - 23 search & rescue missions including 10 emergency responses with 32 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 12, Brunswick 3, Ballina 3, Iluka Yamba 3

Mid North Coast - 24 search & rescue missions including 14 emergency responses with 50 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:

Port Macquarie 9, Forster Tuncurry 8, Coffs Harbour 3

Hunter Central Coast - 87 search & rescue missions including 17 emergency responses with 187 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Hunter/Central Coast units - Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Central Coast & Terrigal.

Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:

Lake Macquarie 52, Central Coast 17, Tuggerah Lakes 12

Greater Sydney - 131 search & rescue missions including 18 emergency responses with 341 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.

Marine Rescue NSW vessel Jervis Bay 41 responded to a MAYDAY call off Bowen Island on March 5 - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:

Sydney State Communications Centre 41, Botany Port Hacking 29, Cottage Point 15

Illawarra - 55 search & rescue missions including 30 emergency responses with 135 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:

Port Kembla 17, Jervis Bay 14, Ulladulla 8

Monaro - 28 search & rescue missions including 19 emergency response with 54 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Monaro units - Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes & Moama.

Marine Rescue Port Macquarie volunteers assist a boater whose vessel took on water near Pelican Island on March 16 - photo © Marine Rescue NSW

Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand:

Eden 9, Batemans Bay 7, Narooma 5

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.