Roles

Our roles are as follows:

• Search and rescue operations - We work closely with the State Police, especially the Water Police and Australian Navy in providing marine search and rescue operations with the use of our two Patrol owned vessels. The majority of this type of work is towing vessels that have broken down and getting the people on board back to land. As we are a non-profit organisation, these services are done free of charge, but any donations are welcome. MRSS Marine Radio Safety Service (MRSS) - is a time-saving, simplified service for boat owners offered by the Coastal Patrol and all boat owners are encouraged to join. When a boat owner logs on for tracking Coastal Patrol is required by Water Police and the State Rescue Board to obtain certain information. MRSS members will already have this information recorded on a secure database and all that is required for each new log on are details of the new voyage or day trip. Personal information is kept confidential and accessible only by Coastal Patrol and search and rescue authorities if the need arises. Each MRSS member is issued with a unique call-sign eg "Hunter 123", to use when contacting us. Not only does this save you radio time, it also saves you having to broadcast personal information on the marine radio every time you log on for tracking. What is Tracking? The ability to communicate with others in an emergency is one of the most important resources for safety at sea. Tracking is a radio safety procedure that ensures trained radio operators know you're out there in case something goes wrong. When you leave for a trip - inshore or offshore, short or long - you call up and log on with Coastal Patrol and advise your departure and voyage details. On day trips you also call in on return to log off. For coastal voyages, your sailing plans are passed on to the Coastal Patrol bases en route. Position checks at pre-scheduled times ("skeds") are arranged. If you are overdue, or have not logged off, Coastal Patrol will start checking and organise assistance if necessary. How do I log on with MRSS? Use the normal calling channels/frequencies on your VHF, MF/HF or 27 MHz marine radio and normal calling procedures - call us three times and identify yourself three times eg "Coastal Patrol Lake Macquarie, Coastal Patrol Lake Macquarie, Coastal Patrol Lake Macquarie, this is "Hunter123" (your unique number), "Hunter 123", "Hunter123" When responding we will ask you to go to a working channel/frequency. Then we need only to obtain details of the number of persons on board, where you are going, estimated time of return (or arrival at your next distination). It's that easy! Do I have to join the MRSS? Logging on and off with Coastal Patrol is a FREE service provided by the Coastal Patrol in the interests of safer boating. It is not mandatory to join MRSS but when you do, you won't have to broadcast your personal details on the radio, you'll enjoy faster communication and that means more time boating. What does it cost? There are differing nominal fees according to the division concerned - please contact Coastal Patrol Lake Macquarie on 0249 713 723 for the current fee. Members are then issued with a unique call sign, membership card and list of all Coastal Patrol bases. It's a very smart form of insurance. MRSS improves your safety at sea and gives you and your loved ones greater confidence that if an emergency occurs, someone who can make a difference will know about it faster and alert Search and Rescue services. Boat owners are invited to subscribe to our Marine Radio Safety Service (MRSS). Even very experienced boat owners, in well maintained vessels, can be involved in unexpected boating incidents such as flat battery, engine failure, running aground, medical emergency or simply passengers becoming sick. Coastal Patrol will assist free of charge. There is no further obligation for a donation to recover rescue costs that would normally apply to non-MRSS members.
• Public education courses - We conduct regular courses on various boating subjects. These include an Introduction to Power Boating course, at the end which Waterways Power Boat License test is conducted and a marine radio course which enables people to obtain the necessary qualifications to operate a marine radio. If you would like more information about the courses we have running at the moment please see the Education section.
• Weather Reports and warnings are received automatically from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and are available to any member of the public either by radio, telephone or in person. See the Weather section for current weather information in the area.
• Assist other Government agencies - When required, we also assist other government agencies such as Fire service, Parks and Wildlife etc.