NAMBUCCA and Lord Howe Island were among the 14 out of 46 Marine Rescue units in NSW to experience record demand in 2025.
They joined seven other Mid North Coast units – Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Trial Bay, Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Crowdy Harrington and Forster Tuncurry – in performing 345 search and rescue missions, including 183 emergency responses.
Combined, 702 people were safely returned to shore.
The locations of highest demand were Forster-Tuncurry with 102, Port Macquarie with 84 and Coffs Harbour with 57.
Marine Rescue Nambucca equalled its unit calendar year record with 17 missions.
Statewide, the total number of rescues was 4,500.
Volunteers responded to a wide range of incidents, including missing person searches, vessel fires and medical emergencies.
The Lake Macquarie region has been identified as the NSW waterway where boaters are most likely to need assistance, with volunteers performing more than 594 search and rescue missions.
Additionally, Marine Rescue NSW radio operators kept watch over almost 270,000 people on board 71,487 logged-on vessels and managed 226,946 radio calls, including 105 MAYDAYs and 56 PAN-PANs (a MAYDAY is a distress call for life-threatening emergencies, a PAN PAN is an urgent call signalling a serious situation).
Sixty-one per cent of responses could have been prevented with improved boat maintenance, with engine, battery and fuel issues again the leading reasons for boaters requesting assistance.
“The demand on Marine Rescue NSW volunteers is constant throughout the year,” Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said.
“These volunteers play a vital role in keeping everyone safe on the state’s waterways, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
“Sadly, in recent weeks we have seen lives lost on our coastline including two at Palm Beach when their boat capsized, demonstrating the challenges that can be faced on our waterways.”
Marine Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews, urged boaters to take appropriate precautions before heading out.
“There is a fine line between a great day on the water and the worst, or possibly last, day of your life,” he said.
“A single poor decision or lack of preparation can lead to a life-threatening situation.”
In 2025, Marine Rescue NSW surpassed 3,500 volunteers, with 50 under the age of 20.
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