January Activity

Marine Rescue Port Stephens is very proud of the work our Radio Base crews perform. The Radio Base is staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year. They have many functions however the major role the crew perform is to keep watch on marine radio frequencies should there be an emergency call from a vessel on the water.
Our Radio Crews manage many types of incidents. Their task is to collect accurate information so that the incident can be reported to the appropriate authority - generally the Water Police. These incidents can range from for example reporting a navigation light not working through to a vessel calling a May Day for a life threatening situation. The Water Police who are responsible for all search and rescue work in NSW waters, determine how the incident is to be handled.
During the Month of January our radio base managed 37 such Marine Incidents.
Our Rescue Vessels were tasked 20 times to assist those requiring help on the water (not all Marine Incidents require a rescue vessel).
Interesting that in. January we made 1720 radio calls and 1900 telephone calls to perform our work.
Congratulations to our Radio base volunteers - you do an amazing job. ... See more

On Monday night our Radio Base received a call from a larger vessel at the western end of the bay. The Skipper reported the vessel was experiencing electrical problems. There were 5 people on board.

4 of the people were visitors to the Bay - 2 from Canada. PS31 was tasked to assist the vessel and tow it to Lemon Tree Passage. A complication was that the car of 3 of the visitors was parked at Taylors Beach.

Our Skipper and Crew decided to take the vessel under tow and proceed towards Lemon Tree Passage. Close to Taylors Beach (where the water depth is shallow) the tow was dropped and the 3 visitors were taken on board and transported safely to the local jetty.

Then PS31 returned to the distressed vessel (which was at anchor) re-established the tow and proceeded to Lemon Tree Passage.

A nice comment from one of the Canadian visitors that this was a very exciting and memorable day for them - they loved being rescued. ... See more

Information for Recreational Boaters from Port Authority of NSW:

Steps to stay safe near seagoing ships

1. Listen to the safety broadcasts from the 24/7 Vessel Traffic Services centre (Sydney VTS) - Sydney Harbour - Channel 13 / Botany Bay - Channel 12
2. Always keep a lookout for seagoing ships.
3. Determine if the vessel is moving towards you or away from you and act early.
4. Always keep a safe distance away from a large vessel.
5. Familiarise yourself with the shipping channels or fairways.
6. Stay clear of the channels or fairways when seagoing ships are entering or departing the ports.
7. Always have your navigation lights on at night. ... See more

On Wednesday afternoon Marine Rescue Port Stephens' radio base received a call from Raymond Terrace Police informing them that there was a boat east of Soldiers Point which was experiencing gear box problems. PS30 was tasked to assist.

Once the vessel was located it was a standard tow to Soldiers Point ramp. The only issue our Skipper (Brian) had was to set the tow and get the vessel to the ramp while a Yacht Race (PSYC) was being conducted in the area. All went well and the yachts were not impeded. ... See more

Marine Rescue Port Stephens members wish to congratulate Nigel Waters on receiving the inaugural Australia Day Port Stephens Environmental Award.

An extract from the award
Nigel is a community champion of Port Stephens who has given his time to numerous volunteer groups across Port Stephens including EcoNetwork Port Stephens, Port Stephens Greens, Climate Action Port Stephens, the Tomaree ratepayers and Residents Association, and the recent Anna Bay 7-day makeover. Nigel is passionate about making Port Stephens a great place.

Nigel was a former member of Marine Rescue - a Watch Officer and Coxswain, volunteering his time for the community.

Well done and well deserved Nigel. ... See more

On the Marine Rescue Port Stephens Facebook page, we very often focus our posts on our mission of “Saving Lives on the Water”. Behind the scenes is a large group of members who support the Unit by means of vital fund raising, promotion and property maintenance to name but a few functions.

Our major fund-raising effort is through the Gift Shop which is run by a very dedicated group of dedicated and successful ladies. The Gift Shop is open most days of the year and was open over the Australia Day weekend.

Another group goes out to appropriate public functions and promotes the work we do and advises the boating public how we can be of service to them. This group was at Fly Point celebrations on Australia Day. This is vital work of this Unit. All part of “Saving Lives on the Water”. ... See more

Australia Day was a busy day at the radio base of Marine Rescue Port Stephens with a large number of vessels logging on and off throughout the day. Other duties included reporting weather conditions to the Bureau of Meteorology, managing vessels which were transiting up and down the coast, following up overdue vessels, talking with visitors to the Radio Base, handling RFS communications outside of daytime hours etc. All routine really.

After 6PM the radio base was contacted by a 6 metre vessel experiencing fuel/engine problems. The skipper advised they were anchored in a cove of Boondelbah Island off the coast from Port Stephens entrance.

PS31 was tasked to assist and a crew was called. The vessel was taken under tow and safely delivered to the ramp at Soldiers Point - west of the port entrance. The crew signed off at 9PM while the Watch Officer in the radio room stayed on duty for the remainder of the night handling routine marine traffic and managing RFS communications. ... See more

Marine Rescue Port Stephens Celebrating
Australia Day 2020

Saturday morning was busy for Marine Rescue Port Stephens.

Our radio base started the day running with over 50 vessels logged on before 0830. Add to that attending to a few RFS firecalls and you will understand that our radio base crew had no time for idle talk this morning.

Down at the dock the normal boat crew training day had started. Today’s programme was centred around retrieving people from the rough seas which we experience out off the coast (and sometimes within the port!). Our crews have to be well trained and able to think outside the box. Very few rescues present exactly as practiced or expected. Once the theory lesson was over it was time to get out on the water.

Through the radio base (which as we know was already busy) there was a request to assist a vessel east of the port. PS31 was tasked with the distressed vessel to be towed west to North Arm Cove.

PS31 was then again tasked to assist a vessel which had reported through the radio base that it was experiencing mechanical problems. It was N.E of the port between the heads and Broughton Island. This time the vessel was towed to a marina west of the heads.

Our crew logged off after 2PM while the radio base was still monitoring 35 vessels still logged on and out on the water.

Well done to our morning radio base crew - great job. The boat crew carried out 2 fine rescues and served the boating public well. We wonder what is instore for the afternoon radio base crew? ... See more

So sad when they come so far to help us.

Coulson Aviation Media Release