newy.com.au – Marine Rescue NSW has begun practical boat licence training at Lemon Tree Passage and Hawkesbury, allowing the public to complete both parts of the General Boat Licence course through the volunteer service for the first time.
The 12 month pilot builds on the theory classes and examinations Marine Rescue NSW already provides. The organisation will use the trial to assess the delivery of practical training and the potential to expand its boating education program.
Lemon Tree Passage Unit Commander Daryl Jurd said he hoped the lessons would help new boaters avoid preventable incidents and reduce calls for assistance.
“We will be talking a lot about pre-launch preparation, logging on via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16, vessel maintenance, and safety equipment,” he said.
Students will learn to navigate narrow channels, anchor correctly, use marine radios and recognise and respond to commercial vessels. Lessons will also cover batteries, fuel and navigation lights.
Practical training will take place aboard TX 10, a 4.6 metre vessel repurposed after years of service with Marine Rescue Moama on the Murray River. The boat has been modified for groups of up to three licence students and can be transferred between Lemon Tree Passage and Hawkesbury’s Mooney Mooney base.
People aged 12 and over can enrol. Theory lessons will be held in the first half of the day, followed by practical training in the afternoon. Courses covering theory alone can take up to 14 students, while practical sessions are limited to three.
The practical component costs $180. For theory alone, the fee is $145 for participants aged 12 to 15 and $165 for those aged 16 and over.
Jurd said the courses would also give the volunteer units another way to raise money for operating costs, alongside state government support.
Courses will generally be offered monthly, and further sessions may be added according to demand. Bookings for Lemon Tree Passage and Hawkesbury are available through the Marine Rescue NSW website.
