newy.com.au – Marine Rescue volunteers carried out 950 search and rescue missions across the Hunter and Central Coast last boating season, returning 1,880 people safely to shore. The tally included 220 emergency responses.
With the 2026/27 boating season opening on Thursday, 1 October 2026, Marine Rescue NSW is warning Newcastle and Hunter skippers to check their vessels before launching. Engine and battery failures and running out of fuel account for almost 60 per cent of its responses statewide, according to Commissioner Todd Andrews.
The Hunter Central Coast region has 751 volunteers across eight units, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Lemon Tree Passage, preparing for the season ahead.
“The ‘she’ll be right’ attitude doesn’t cut it when you’re stranded 20 nautical miles offshore in deteriorating weather conditions because you used old fuel or didn’t check your battery,” Commissioner Andrews said.
He urged skippers not to overlook essential checks in their enthusiasm to return to the water, particularly if their boats had been unused over winter.
Boaters should have their vessels serviced, check batteries, inspect safety equipment and carry enough fuel to complete their trip with some in reserve, he said. They should also check the weather before leaving and continue monitoring conditions while on the water.
“Poor preparation can turn a great day on the water into a life-threatening incident, and many of the problems we respond to are preventable.”
Marine Rescue NSW said it had experienced its second busiest winter on record. Following a warm start to spring, Commissioner Andrews expected volunteers to remain in high demand as more boaters returned to the water.
The Hunter Central Coast region accounted for about 30 per cent of the 3,147 search and rescue missions completed across NSW during the 2025/26 season. Statewide, volunteers brought 7,059 people safely to shore.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib urged boaters to log on with Marine Rescue before every trip. Last boating season, volunteer radio operators kept watch over 170,608 people aboard 46,824 logged-on vessels.
“I encourage every boater to log on every trip, every time, whether heading offshore, fishing on an estuary or enjoying an inland waterway,” Mr Dib said.
Almost 3,400 volunteers statewide will be available around the clock on rescue vessels and in radio rooms during the boating season, which runs until Anzac Day 2027.
