Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell visiting Marine Rescue Cottage Point. MRCP photos by MRCP
A record 7,687 people were returned to shore after being assisted by Marine Rescue NSW volunteers during the 2024/25 boating season, which commenced on 1 October last year and concluded on ANZAC Day 2025. Volunteers across the state — from the Tweed, down the east coast to Eden, and inland on the Alpine Lakes and the Murray River at Moama — completed 3,246 search and rescue missions over the boating season, just five missions short of the record set in 2022/23.
“The demand on our volunteers continues to be high, but they selflessly answered the call at any time of day or night to reunite a record number of people with their loved ones during the season.
“We would rather see a decline in rescue missions, but with so many people boating across the state, the numbers show that requests for assistance are on par with the past few boating seasons,” said Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell.
Numbers by boating season:
2022/23: 3,251 missions with 7,450 people safely returned to shore
2023/24: 3,242 missions with 7,535 people safely returned to shore
2024/25: 3,246 missions with 7,687 people safely returned to shore
The Northern Rivers (Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba and Wooli) and Illawarra (Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla and Kioloa) regions recorded their busiest boating seasons on record. Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the seven Northern Rivers units completed 222 search and rescue missions, while volunteers across the Illawarra carried out 358 missions.
Greater Sydney was the busiest region during the boating season, with crews undertaking 1,255 search and rescue missions and safely returning more than 3,200 people to shore.
“Engine, fuel and battery issues accounted for 66% of responses, 6% were for groundings, and 4% for capsized vessels,” said Commissioner Barrell.
“Many of these incidents are preventable with better planning and maintenance. Boaters need to ensure their vessel is in good working order, carry enough clean fuel with some in reserve, monitor the weather, carry the correct safety equipment, and always wear a lifejacket — a lifejacket can only help if you are wearing it.
“Boating season might be over, but the danger never goes away. Those planning to hit the water during the cooler months must not be complacent — always check your vessel and the weather,” he said.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell. Photo: MRNSW
Volunteer radio operators managed 143,585 radio calls, including 60 MAYDAYs during the boating season and kept watch over 171,423 people on board Logged On vessels.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said Logging On provides peace of mind for the boating community and their loved ones.
“I urge all boaters to download the free Marine Rescue NSW app and make logging on a standard part of their pre-launch routine. It saves precious time in an emergency — and ensures our volunteers are keeping watch for your safe return. Boaters can also log on using VHF channel 16.
“Marine Rescue NSW’s highly trained volunteers are on call 24/7, ready to assist anyone in distress on our waterways.
“The NSW Government sincerely thanks the dedicated 3,500 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers who safely brought a record number of people home this boating season. Thanks to their selfless service, nearly 7,700 people of all ages were reunited with their loved ones,” Minister Dib said.
Breakdown of 2024/25 boating season search & rescue missions across Marine Rescue NSW regions:
GREATER SYDNEY – 1,255 search & rescue missions including 150 emergency responses with 3,223 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.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand: Sydney State Communications Centre 367, Botany Port Hacking 303, Port Jackson 169, Middle Harbour 154
NORTHERN RIVERS – REGION RECORD - 222 search & rescue missions including 103 emergency responses with 502 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 86, Iluka Yamba 50, Ballina 44
MID NORTH COAST – 235 search & rescue missions including 112 emergency responses with 527 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: Forster Tuncurry 81, Port Macquarie 55, Coffs Harbour 33
HUNTER CENTRAL COAST – 985 search & rescue missions including 217 emergency responses with 2,187 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 432, Central Coast 182, Port Stephens 173
ILLAWARRA – REGION RECORD - 358 search & rescue missions including 151 emergency responses with 819 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 101, Jervis Bay 99, Shoalhaven 56, Sussex Inlet 55
MONARO – 191 search & rescue missions including 117 emergency response with 429 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Monaro units – Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes & Moama.
Number of search and rescue missions in locations of highest demand: Batemans Bay 76, Eden 35, Bermagui 24, Merimbula 22
MAYDAY Appeal
Commissioner Barrell said that while Marine Rescue NSW receives valuable funds from the NSW Government, the service also relies on the generous support of communities, partners and grant programmes to keep volunteers rescue-ready.
“This May, we’re asking people to answer the call and support Marine Rescue NSW in our mission of saving lives on the water.
“MAYDAY is a call for help — this May, we need you to answer our call. Every dollar you give helps our volunteers save lives on the water, we appreciate any support.
“Our goal of $45,000 represents $1 for every boater Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have saved in the last five years,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Click here to give to our MAYDAY appeal.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
A crew from Marine Rescue Evans Head assist a family stranded offshore in March 2025
Log On/ Log Off
Log On & Off with Marine Rescue. It’s quick, simple and free. Log On whenever you’re heading out on the water and Log Off when you return. We’ll stand watch. If you don’t Log Off as planned, our volunteers will start searching for you.
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To Log On, call your Marine Rescue NSW base on VHF Channel 16 or use the free MarineRescue App. You can download the App at the App Store for Apple devices or Google Play for Androids.
You can always Log On, whether you’re out for a morning’s fishing, a day trip around your local area or cruising along the coastline. And it doesn’t matter if you’re on a tinnie, a cruiser, a yacht, a kayak, a canoe or a jet ski.
When you Log On via, our radio operator will ask you for some basic information about your vessel, your destination and contacts.
You’ll enter the same details on your smartphone or other device if you’re using the MarineRescue app. If you don’t Log Off, this information will help us find you, whether you’ve simply forgotten to Log Off when you returned to shore or you’re caught in an emergency and need help fast.
Tell us:
- Your boat registration number
- Where you’re leaving from
- Where you’re heading
- What time you plan to return
- The number of people on board
- Your mobile phone number
If the fish are biting and you decide to stay out longer, simply call the base on VHF Ch 16 or use the MarineRescue App to update your arrival time.
Remember to Log Off when you’re back on shore. If you haven’t let us know you’re back safely, we’ll start to look for you. We’ll try calling you first up, just in case you’ve forgotten to Log Off and headed home with your catch. That’s the best outcome. If we get no answer, we’ll step up the response.
When you Log On via the App, choose the live safety tracking option so your position is updated in our vessel tracking system every 30 minutes. This means that in an emergency, our rescue crews will have a starting point for a search operation, based on your last known position, saving valuable time when minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
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