News from Marine Rescue NSW
Central Coast
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Marine RESCUE ASSISTS Two vessels on Sunday
30 August 2010
The volunteers at Marine Rescue Central Coast had spent a quiet weekend with only training exercises to occupy their time. Around 1600 hours on Sunday duty radio operator, Ken Sharp, received a phone call from the Police. “Could we please find a vessel, with a man and his dog stranded on the foreshore between Pt Frederick and Point Clare, near a wharf that has three flag poles”?
The man’s wife had been put ashore together with the mobile phone. Somehow she had made her way to Gosford Boat Ramp, called for help and was now waiting with the car and trailer.
Peter Alderton, Ted Leeson and Gordon Porter aboard Brisbane Water Lifeboat, began a search and despite the vague directions eventually found the 4.3m vessel, the man and a damp almost hypothermic dog near a jetty at the south end of the Point Clare shoreline. The vessel was taken to Gosford ramp and the family reunited.
As the rescue vessel was returning to base, around 1650 hours, radio operator Ken Sharp tasked the crew to an urgent assist in Broken Bay. He told the crew, “We have a 5.5m bowrider with four people on board. They have a fuel problem and cannot start their vessel. The seas are reported as 2.0m and the southeastly is blowing 20 knots and rising. The skipper is very concerned about the safety of the boat and the people on board”.
Brisbane Water Lifeboat made a fast passage under flashing “Reds and Blues” to Broken Bay while, on the radio, Ken Sharp re-assured the people on the vessel that help was on the way. The rescue boat located the bowrider anchored west of Lion Island about 1730 hrs.
The tow back to Gosford was very tricky, particularly crossing the bar at Little Box Head due to the run-out tide and 2.0m seas, the worst possible conditions for a night bar crossing. The people on board were eventually dropped off at Gosford Sailing Club and the skipper assisted to his mooring at Pt Frederick. The rescue boat and crew logged off at 1930 hours.
WEEKEND WATCH ACTIVITIES
9 August 2010
A night exercise was held on Brisbane Water by the volunteers from Marine Rescue Central Coast on Saturday night (Aug 7). As a result of assessments made during the exercise two members, Bob White and Roger Palmer, met the standards required for promotion to rescue boat coxswain.
On Sunday Aug 9, after removal of a log near the Rip Bridge that was endangering navigation, Central Coast Lifeboat, with Anthony Porter as skipper, assisted a 6.0m runabout with electrical problems. The vessel, with four people was located about 10:30am about 1km offshore, east of East Reef. The rescue crew passed over a battery-pack that enabled the vessel to be restarted, and return to safety under its own power.
YACHT AGROUND IN OYSTER LEASE
18 July 2010
A phone call early on Sunday morning July 18, alerted the volunteers on duty at Marine Rescue Central Coast to the predicament of a 50’ yacht and its crew of five. They sought assistance as they had run aground about 1.00am. As the daylight made their surrounding clear they found themselves hard and fast in an oyster lease at the northern end of Paddy’s Channel in Brisbane Water.
Skipper Cameron Veacock and crewman took the rescue vessel, Central Coast Lifeboat, to the area. The yacht was well out of the Channel and with low tide fast approaching there was little that could be done until the high tide, still many hours away. The yacht crew evacuated the two women on board by dinghy to the rescue boat as they were concerned about family at home. The rescue boat delivered the women to a private jetty at Daley’s Point. The three men stayed with the yacht and after 2.00pm, some 13 hours later, they were able to extricate themselves on get on their way.
Fishermen Rescued at night off Macmasters Beach
28 June 2010
Central Coast Lifeboat
Around 5:00 pm on Saturday June 26, just as the southerly change was chilling the air, the Marine Rescue volunteers at the Central Coast Unit’s Point Clare Base were tasked by the Police to assist two fishermen in a 5.1m runabout about ½ nm off Macmasters Beach. The men could not start the boat’s engine and needed assistance to get back to Davistown.
Terry Reynolds and his crew, Ian Morrow and Gary Marshall, on Central Coast Lifeboat, immediately set out in the failing light for the GPS position provided by the Police. The position was loaded into the rescue boat’s ‘GPS Plotter’, and that in turn provided the crew with a course to steer to locate the disabled vessel. Communication with the men was by mobile phone, not ideal in the circumstances. With seas of 2.0m and rising occasionally to 3.0m and the southerly blowing at 20 knots with higher gusts, the rescue crew finally spotted a lonely anchor light glowing in the darkness. As they came up to the boat they found two relieved fishermen.
The rescue crew had to provide assistance to free the disabled boat’s anchor as it had become well imbedded in the rough conditions. Then began a long and uncomfortable tow back to the calmer conditions in Brisbane Water. The men and their boat were dropped off at the Lintern Street Ramp around 8:00pm.
Solar Grant to Central Coast Marine Rescue Volunteers
Friday 18 June 2010
Deputy CMDR Tony Long looks on as Marie Andrews MP presents a $5000 grant cheque to assist installation of a solar electricity system to CMDR Ian Gallard.
On Friday 18 June, the Member for Gosford, Marie Andrews, presented a $5000 helping hand from the State Government to volunteers from the Central Coast Unit of Marine Rescue NSW.
Marie Andrews said, “This $5000 Government grant will assist with the installation of a solar energy system at the Point Clare Base. A solar energy unit will help provide cost‑efficient power for the operation of the unit's radio room and boat lifts for its two rescue vessels".
The Marine Rescue volunteers sought assistance from Marie Andrews who made representations to Emergency Services Minister, Steve Whan, on behalf of the Central Coast Unit.
Marie Andrews said “The volunteers from Marine Rescue play a vital role in assisting and protecting the Central Coast's large boating community. Whether they are monitoring the airwaves, crewing rescue vessels or doing essential training, administration and maintenance work, the members of Marine Rescue put in countless hours to keep our local boaties safe. The volunteers at the Central Coast Unit are recognised for their skills, experience and dedication to the safety of people on our waters and I thank them all for their unwavering commitment and hard work."
Unit Commander, Ian Gallard, accepted the cheque on behalf of Unit’s members. He thanked Marie Andrews for her help and asked that she thank Steve Whan for providing financial support for this worthwhile project.
Ian Gallard stated, “Once installed, the photovoltaic solar system will help offset the ever-growing electricity costs of running the Marine Rescue Radio Base and its associated equipment 7-days a week. New technology and new equipment to improve communications all mean increased use of electricity, so we appreciate this assistance to alleviate the ongoing costs.”
Change of Command at Central Coast Marine Rescue
3 June 2010
Retiring Commander Pat Fayers
The first Commander of Marine Rescue Central Coast, Patricia Fayers, has stood down after almost four years in charge, initially of Coastal Patrol and since January 1, of Marine Rescue Central Coast. Under Pat’s command the Unit has maintained its proud tradition of service to the boating public and has significantly improved the infrastructure of the Unit. The members moved a motion of thanks for her dedication.
Elections for the positions of Unit Commander and Deputy Unit Commander were held at the inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Unit on Wednesday night June 2. After the secret ballot and counting of proxy votes, the Returning Officer, Sherwin Hensby, announced the result to more than 60 members in attendance. The Unit’s volunteer members elected Ian Gallard as Unit Commander for a two year term. Tony Long was elected as Deputy Unit Commander.
Commander Ian Gallard
Ian Gallard, who lives at Umina Beach, has been a member of the volunteer rescue unit for more than four years, in fact since he and his wife Lyn came to reside on the Central Coast. Ian has been an active member since joining, not only with boat and radio duties but also with the administration responsibilities that are necessary to maintain a viable 24/7 operational unit.
Ian has senior business management experience with Qantas, P&O and RailCorp. Supported by wife Lyn, Ian promises continuity within the Unit while managing the inevitable changes that are occurring as Marine Rescue NSW develops.
The new Deputy Commander, Tony Long, (pictured above on Brisbane Water Lifeboat) has been a member of the Unit for just over two years. He says he has one wife, Christine, and two young adult children. The family moved to Green Point from Port Macquarie in 2004. Tony is no stranger to volunteer marine rescue as, in Port Macquarie, he was involved with VRA-Marine. He is Chief Inspector of Police attached to Tuggerah LAC. As a result of his 25-year police career he has significant Emergency Management experience.
He is a passionate boater and fisherman, and he has been active throughout his marine rescue volunteer membership. As well he has handled roster duties for the Unit’s 120 strong membership. His enthusiasm, dedication and management skills will assist Marine Rescue Central Coast continue its tradition of service to the community
SUNDAY WAS NOT WITHOUT INCIDENT
17 May 20101
The volunteer crews at Marine Rescue Central Coast attended three incidents on Sunday 16 May. Around 1130 hours the Brisbane Water Lifeboat, skippered by Anthony Porter assisted by his crew, Richard Manning, Sue Lang and Geoff Morris, was sent to Iron Ladder Beach in Broken Bay to assist a 5.0m runabout with mechanical problems. The boat, with three people aboard was located and then towed to the ramp at Lions Park, Woy Woy.
While this vessel was under tow the crew on duty at the Point Clare Base heard a strange motor noise from a 6.0m fibreglass runabout passing the Base on Brisbane water. In astonishment they watched as the outboard motor detached from the boat and disappeared. The man on board paddled his now motor-less boat to the Base jetty. One of the Marine Rescue members drove the owner to Woy Woy to his car and trailer. He returned to Point Clare where he was assisted to put his boat onto his trailer. It was learned that he had recently purchased the boat and this was his first outing.
Another call for help was received at 1645 hours from a 6.0m runabout with mechanical problems. The three people on board requested a tow back to the launching ramp at Gosford. Brisbane Water Lifeboat had reached the north end of Paddy’s Channel as darkness descended and heavy rain began to fall. The cold and wet rescued and rescuers were happy when their day out ended safely.
A SINKING FEELING ON SUNDAY
10 May 2010
At 3.30pm on Mother’s Day, Ian Brown and his crew on Central Coast Lifeboat were conducting a training exercise on the bar at Box Head when they received an urgent radio call from the radio base of Marine Rescue at Point Clare, ‘We have a report of a launch with eight people on board sinking in Paddy's Channel”.
The crew responded immediately, and with emergency lights flashing they raced to Paddys, arriving in just 12 minutes after receiving the call. They soon discovered a hire launch near an oyster lease at the northern end of the channel. The boat had its stern nearly submerged, and its bow was raised and people on the cabin roof. The three men, three women (one pregnant) and two children on board were bailing frantically. Six were wearing life jackets.
The marine rescue crew were told that the hire boat had strayed too close to the oyster lease and struck a submerged post holing the hired launch. The wet and distreesed families were transferred to the rescue boat, and some were treated for shock and hyperthermia. The families were taken to the hire company marina at Ettalong. The company was able to retrieve its damaged vessel.
Marine Rescue NSW Easter Boating Safety Net Tip
Log on AS you leave for safer Easter boating
The Easter Weekend will see locals and visitors to the Central Coast get out on the water to enjoy a few days boating before the colder weather sets in. With more boats there are on the water, the more risk there is for something to go wrong.
Imagine this. You’ve been out with a couple of mates for a day’s fishing at a favourite spot 24 nautical miles out. You’ve had a sensational day with more fish than you’ve caught in years. But at 2:30 that afternoon you’re hit by a big wave, your big catch shifts and next thing you know the boat has capsized and you’re all in the water. Your radio’s under water and useless but you’re all wearing your life jackets and you used your radio to log on with your local Marine Rescue base when you left port.
This is exactly what happened just a few months ago to three men off Port Macquarie.
When the Port Macquarie Marine Rescue radio operator hadn’t heard from the boat at the agreed time, the rescue crew swung in to action and began a search. It was 10 to 10 that night when Port Macquarie Rescue One found them – the fishermen had been in the water for over seven hours and drifted more than 13 nautical miles from their capsize position.
All three men were suffering from hypothermia from their long immersion but their lives were saved because they logged on before leaving. The skilled Marine Rescue volunteers had the search plan and local knowledge that kept those men in the Marine Rescue Safety Net.
On the Central Coast you can ‘Log-On’ With Marine Rescue Units at Gosford, Terrigal, Norah Head or The Entrance. The volunteers at these units are listening on the marine radio channels to ready help you. Logging On is like an insurance policy should something go wrong.
You’ll find the volunteers are helpful, knowledgeable and very keen to help you stay in the Volunteer Marine Rescue Safety Net.
SAFE DISPOSAL OF DISTRESS FLARES
Wednesday 17 March 2010
A new - trial new system for the disposal of out-of date distress flares has been announced by NSW Maritime.
CMDR Pat Fayers of Marine Rescue Central Coast said, “Safe disposal of out of date flare has been a problem for many years, and we are delighted to learn of this initiative from NSW Maritime”
On the Central Coast, expired flares can now be placed into special containers at the NSW Maritime Service Centre in Donnison Street, Gosford, between 030 and 1630 hrs Monday to Friday.
The flares will be stored for collection and then transported to the Sterihealth facility at Silverwater, Sydney. The expired flares will be destroyed at ultra-high temperature under strict environmental conditions.
The new flare disposal system was the result of a close partnership between NSW Maritime,
WorkCover NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.
The trial will run until July 2011 and will be reviewed before that date.
BOAT CAPSIZE ON BAR AT LITTLE BOX HEAD
Sunday March 14, 2010
Ted Leeson, assisted by Ken Sharp administers some First Aid to the injured man
At 1240hrs on Saturday (March 13), Marine Rescue Central Coast was alerted by radio by a Fishing Club member that a 6.0m Haines 1800S Ski-boat had capsized while crossing the bar at Little Box Head. The report indicated that there were three people in the water.
The police were notified and Central Coast Lifeboat was tasked to assist. As Skipper Norm Smith and his crew, Ian Brown, Ken Sharp and Ted Leeson were hurrying to the scene they were advised that two of the people had been picked up by a Motor Cruiser, and that the third person was on the Fishing Club member’s runabout.
Seas on arrival at Little Box Head were found to be short, very lumpy and about 2.0m. The bow of the capsized boat was just visible, floating vertically due to the weight of its 225HP motor. With the assistance of a local SLSC RIB, a tow line was attached to the capsized vessel and it was dragged to Lobster Beach.
A NSW Maritime vessel collected the three men from the overturned vessel. One had a badly lacerated toe and was transferred to Central Coast Lifeboat for first-aid treatment and subsequent transfer to an ambulance at Woy Woy. The Maritime BSO transported the other men to Apple Tree Bay to collect their car and boat trailer. The ski-boat skipper told the MRNSW crew that, “we were hit by a wave and just flipped”.
With the assistance of two SLSC members as well as three members of the public at Lobster Beach, the ski-boat was righted and pumped out using equipment from the Marine Rescue vessel. Once afloat the $30,000 ski-boat was towed to the inner ramp at Lions Park, Woy Woy, arriving around 1530hrs.
The rescue was a great example of cooperation among several agencies and as well, it was a powerful demonstration to the men involved of the importance of wearing lifejackets and the reason why they’re mandatory when crossing a bar.
Rescues on Saturday and Sunday
February 22, 2010
Marine Rescue Skipper Anthony Porter
Three men at Ettalong in a 4.0m runabout with mechanical problems radioed Marine Rescue Gosford for assistance around 2:00pm on Saturday (Feb 20). They were pleased to see Brian Warburton and his crew, Bob White and Roger Palmer, on Central Coast Lifeboat. The runabout was towed to its launching point at Palm Beach.
On Sunday (Feb 21), around noon, the skipper of a 7.0m Bayliner at Noonan’s Point with three people onboard reported that it had a mechanical failure and sought assistance to return to its mooring at Koolewong. The Central Coast Lifeboat, with Anthony Porter in command, was soon on the scene and the vessel towed to its mooring.
ONLY ON SUNDAY - TASKS FOR MARINE RESCUE
Sunday 31 January 2010
After a quiet Saturday it turned out to be a busy Sunday (Jan 31) for the volunteers at Marine Rescue Central Coast. Skipper Terry Reynolds and his crew, Ron Jackson, Richard Manning and Gordon Ellis, on Central Coast Lifeboat, were off Palm Beach from about 9:00am assisting as one of the safety boats for the Palm Beach ‘Big Swim’.
Around 11:30 as they followed the last of the swimmers towards Whale Beach they were directed to assist a 5.8m half cabin runabout was disabled with an electrical fault. The boat, shown above, with one adult and two children on board had phoned to seek help and was about 2.5nm offshore east of Barrenjoey. The vessel was located readily because around 15 minutes later they supplied a GPS position. Seas were a lumpy 2m swell so then began the uncomfortable 2-hour tow back to Lintern St Ramp at Davistown. The rescue crew were certainly ‘late’ for lunch.
Brisbane Water Lifeboat, under the control of Skipper Anthony Porter was out on a crew training exercise with Roger Palmer, Alan Reid and Vern McDonald, when around 3:20, following advice from a commercial vessel, it went to Lobster Beach to investigate a report of a boat in trouble.
On arrival the crew found two people aboard a 4.5m runabout with a seized engine seeking help to get back to the ramp at Pretty Beach. The men gratefully accepted a tow.
MARINE RESCUE CENTRAL COAST’S AUSTRALIA DAY
27 January 2010
Central Coast Lifeboat at Gosford Waterfront for the Australia Day Festivities
The volunteers at Marine Rescue Central Coast were on radio watch from 6:00am on Australia Day, ready to ‘log-on’ and provide a safety net for all those enjoying their day on the water.
Both rescue vessels, Central Coast Lifeboat and Brisbane Water Lifeboat, were checked and made ready for the days activities. Central Coast Lifeboat, crewed by Cameron Veacock, Gordon Ellis and Pat Fayers, lead the Parade of Boats organised by Gosford Council as part of the Australia Day waterfront festivities. More than 60 yachts and power boats joined the parade from Point Frederick to Gosford. Brisbane Water Lifeboat, crewed by Terry Reynolds, Steve Finney and Bill Egan, was ‘tail end Charlie’ bringing up the end of the parade. Both Rescue Boats then acted as marshals and safety vessels for the other water activities undertaken.
Gordon Ellis supervises the tow of the fireworks barge to Woy Woy
Late afternoon, Central Coast Lifeboat, towed the fireworks barge from Gosford to its spot hidden in the mangroves at Woy Woy for the evening’s fireworks display at 9:0pm. To maintain a mandatory safety zone around the barge, the tow was escorted by Brisbane Water Lifeboat. After the display and in the dark, the barge had to be extracted from its spot in the mangroves and towed under escort back to Gosford.
It was a long but enjoyable and satisfying day for the Central Coast community and its Marine Rescue volunteers.
CAUGHT IN THE SOUTHERLY
24 January 2010
A quiet and uneventful day at MARINE RESCUE Central Coast was ending on the evening of Saturday 23 Jan. The duty crew were glad to be closing down at 6:02pm after a very hot day and were enjoying the cooling effects of the 40 knot southerly. Then the phone rang. A resident at Saratoga called in to report that he had seen through his telescope a man in boat waving an oar. He said the boat appeared to be in difficulties but because of the rain and spray driven by the howling southerly wind he wasn’t sure.
The duty radio operator rang Gosford Police to ask if they had any other reports of a boat in trouble. They advised that they had received a mobile phone call from a man in a boat in that vicinity and had sent a car to investigate. Central Coast Lifeboat was immediately despatched with Norm Smith as skipper and Ian Brown and Ted Leeson as crew. The radio room contacted the boat to determine an accurate description and position. They learned that there were 5 people on board the 15’ half cabin launch. Its motor had ‘died’ and it was being blown south rapidly. They said they were about half-a-mile off Peeks Point.
The rescue boat crew located the distressed boat with the five people huddled inside the cabin to avoid the wind and rain. After some difficulties in the rough condition the tow line was attached and reluctantly some people left the cabin to balance the boat to enable a safe tow to the ramp at Saratoga. The group had been out fishing, had seen the southerly coming and while returning home the motor had failed.
Central Coast Lifeboat and its crew returned to base around 7:30pm with the sound of ‘thank you’ ringing in their ears. Without the call from the man with the telescope and the dedication of the volunteers at MARINE RESCUE Central Coast, the day’s fishing could have ended in tragedy and a wrecked boat.
NOTHING IS EVER SIMPLE
14 January 2010
Yacht under tow in Broken Bay in southerly during thunderstorm - photo Dennis Byrne
Around 5:46pm on Wednesday (Jan 13) the duty radio operator at the Point Clare base of Marine Rescue Central Coast, Alan Howes, sent his duty crew, Terry Reynolds and Dennis Byrne, aboard Central Coast Lifeboat to a simple job in Gosford Boat Harbour. A 30’ yacht with two people aboard had run aground and required help to get free and back into deep water. This task was completed by 6:15pm and the rescue boat was returning to its berth at Point Clare. The crew called the base to advise that their task was completed.
It was then that the radio operator advised that he had received a VHF radio ‘Pan Pan’ call (an urgent call for help) from a vessel in trouble in Broken Bay, about 1nm off Lion Island. The 50’ yacht had one person on board, its roller reefing gear had jammed with the foresail about 2/3rd rolled, and the engine would not start. The skipper provided a GPS position to assist the rescue crew go straight to the location. The wind was 30 knots and gusting from the Sth/East, seas were 3m and rising. This yacht had a problem. Police were notified and Marine Rescue Central Coast was tasked to assist.
Terry and his crew reached the yacht about 6:50pm. By then it was just ½ nm off Lion Island. Conditions had deteriorated with a thunderstorm, heavy rain and squally winds making life unpleasant and seas very confused. The rescue boat crew got a line aboard the yacht and began a tow towards Pittwater. Progress was slow because of the strong southerly and the wind in the jammed sail. The yacht skipper and boat crew decided to head west to shelter under West Head so the owner could free the jammed sail. This was successful and it was then decided that the safest location overnight would be Refuge Bay. The yacht was placed on a mooring in Refuge about 9:30pm.
The lifeboat and its weary crew finally got back to the Point Clare base about 10:15pm; so much for a simple and quick job before dinner.
COASTAL PATROL OPERATIONS CHANGE TO MARINE RESCUE NSW
30 December 2009
Commander Patricia Fayers
Effective from 6:00am on January 1 Coastal Patrol Divisions, including Central Coast will cease to exist as operational entities. From that time and date all operational activities including marine radio and search and rescue will become the responsibility of Marine Rescue NSW.
Coastal Patrol Central Coast that operates from Point Clare and Terrigal Haven will change its radio call signs from Coastal Patrol to Marine Rescue Gosford and Marine Rescue Terrigal from that moment.
Unit Commander, Patricia Fayers said,’ This is both a sad yet exciting time. It is sad that the Patrol is ceasing after 39 years on the Central Coast, but our members are excited and enthusiastic to continue their service to the community under the banner of the new organisation.’
All operational assets of Central Coast Division will become the responsibility of Marine Rescue NSW. Patrol membership will move from the Patrol to Marine Rescue NSW. The changeover process, including base and vessel identification, uniforms from Coastal Patrol to Marine Rescue NSW will be gradual and all Divisions will continue to operate as normal to provide a safety net for the recreational boaters on the Central Coast
RESCUE SUNDAY FOR COASTAL PATROL CREWS
13 December 2009
Central Coast Lifeboat and Brisbane Water Lifeboat ‘on the job’ on Brisbane Water.
December 13 proved to be ‘Rescue Sunday” for the boat crews on duty at Coastal Patrol Central Coast Division.
Around 11:00 the Point Clare base received a broken up 27MHz radio message from a runabout in a fishing competition with engine trouble somewhere north of Maitland Bay. With assistance from the radio operator at Coastal Patrol Terrigal Haven it was determined that the 4.5m vessel with 2 POB was 2nm east of Third Point. Bill Egan, Cameron Veacock and Gordon Ellis aboard Central Coast Lifeboat located the vessel in 2m seas. The stricken craft was towed back to safety at Lions Park at Woy Woy.
While this tow was underway, at about 11:50 another participant in the same fishing competition radioed for help due to a fuel problem. The 5.0m runabout with 3 POB, was at Lobster Beach. Brisbane Water Lifeboat, with Terry Reynolds and Collis Harvey aboard was despatched to assist. The runabout was towed back to the Blackwall Ramp.
On its return Central Coast Lifeboat was despatched to aid a dismasted catamaran but found the Patrol’s services were not required as a passing yacht was already assisting.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY ON DREDGE AT LITTLE BOX HEAD
12 December 2009
Photo: Helicopter crew assessing possibility of landing on the dredge, it landed on nearby Lobster Beach and the medical crew on board were transported to the tug by Waterways RIB.
Coastal Patrol was involved with the evacuation of a worker from the dredge working on the bar at Little Box Head at the entrance to Broken Bay early on Saturday afternoon, December 12.
Around 13:30 hours duty radio operator Ron Jackson had a call from the local Waterways Safety Officer seeking urgent assistance to transport NSW Ambulance paramedics from Ettalong Public Wharf to the tug, Betts Bay, at Little Box Head. A male worker on board was suffering severe abdominal pains and immediate medical assistance was required.
Skipper Terry Reynolds and his crew, Brent Malcolm and Gordon Ellis, on Brisbane Water Lifeboat collected the paramedics and transported them to the tug. Once on board the tug the paramedics decided that the man should be evacuated by helicopter. On arrival the helicopter pilot assessed the location. He asked that all vessels in the immediate vicinity be asked not to use radar or MF/HF radios while the helicopter was nearby due to possible interference with instruments. He also asked that the channel be closed while they landed a crew by long wire. Eventually the pilot decided they could not land on the dredge or tug due to the amount of equipment onboard, so the helicopter landed the doctor and another paramedic on Lobster Beach. From there they were transported to the Betts Bay by the Waterways Rigid Hull Inflatable boat.
Once the man was stabilised it was decided that the best evacuation plan was for the Coastal Patrol rescue vessel to transport the man on a stretcher back to the ambulance waiting at Ettalong Public Wharf. The man was finally carried ashore about 15:30 hours, and then was taken to Gosford Hospital.
Addenda: We learned on Sunday that the worker involved passed kidney stones overnight in Gosford Hospital and was able to return home on Sunday Dec 13. His boss says he expects him to be 'back on the job' on the dredge early in the week.
MARINE RESCUE NSW DIRECTORS VISIT CENTRAL COAST
9 December 2009
Directors Michael Stringer (left) and James Glissan (standing) in MRNSW uniforms, with Patricia Fayers, Commander of Coastal Patrol Central Coast Division.
Marine Rescue NSW is a new force in Australian volunteer marine rescue services. It draws together highly trained people from the three existing volunteer marine rescue organisations in NSW and will provide improved coordination of search and rescue, radio communications and boat safety education for the boating community.
Until now, volunteer marine rescue activities in NSW have been carried out by Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA), Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP) and the Volunteer Rescue Association, Marine Branch (VRA Marine Branch). These three groups operate a total of 56 accredited marine rescue bases along the NSW coast and perform almost 70 percent of all rescues in NSW.
Members of all three organisations have worked together to forge a single entity for the future. There has been widespread consultation on the creation of this new service that has attracted strong support throughout the volunteer marine rescue community.
Two Directors on the Board of Marine Rescue NSW, James Glissan (previously AVCGA) and Michael Stringer (previously RVCP) visited the Central Coast on Monday Dec 7 to update local volunteers on the progress to a single unified organisation. About 50 members attended the meeting held at the Point Clare Base.
Those present were advised that MRNSW now has 2300 members in NSW.
Commissioner Glenn Finniss has been appointed the Acting Head of MRNSW. Glenn has 30-years of NSW Police Service including 29-years with the NSW Water Police, and for the last 9 years he was responsible for Marine Search and Rescue in NSW.
The Directors advised that detailed planning and budgeting is underway, including the appointment of Strategic Integration Teams to ensure that MRNSW Operations and Administration are optimised for the benefit and safety of the recreational boating community.
Volunteers in MRNSW uniforms will soon appear on Central Coast waters in vessels changed from traditional Coastal Patrol or Coast Guard colours to the new MRNSW livery.
