Boating safety initiatives
DESTINATIONS – OUTDOORS HEALTH & SAFETY
Many OTA website visitors own boats and the Marine Rescue NSW app makes it easy for boaties to stay safe on NSW waters, by connecting them directly to Marine Rescue NSW – but don’t forget the EPIRB.
In just a few minutes, you can Log On with Marine Rescue NSW , knowing that some of 3000 professionally trained and equipped search and rescue experts are looking out for your safe return.
When you Log On with Marine Rescue NSW via the app, or VHF Channel 16, key details about your trip, including where you’re heading and when you’re planning to return, help save precious time in an emergency.
If you’re not safely back when expected, Marine Rescue NSW’s experienced and dedicated volunteers can quickly start a search.
The app also offers you an extra live safety tracking option, automatically updating your position every 30 minutes; provided that you update your location settings to allow your location to be shared with the app.
You’ll also find a range of valuable safety tools and information in the app to help you stay safe on the water: local tide, weather and sea conditions; your latitude/longitude position coordinates; boat ramp locations and popular fishing spots; safety checklist; emergency call procedures and information on Marine Rescue NSW.
The free Marine Rescue NSW app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Make sure you can be found off-shore
It’s not widely known, but since 2022 all boats and personal water craft operating beyond smooth and partially smooth waters were obliged to carry a 406MHz digital emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).
A battery-powered EPIRB can float and, once activated, relays an emergency GPS position to rescue services. An EPIRB example is the 2025 GME MT605G.
Built for fishermen, sailors and recreational boaters, the GME MT605G features a GNSS receiver (Global Navigation Satellite System) for accuracy; a high-intensity IR strobe light to help search and rescue teams find you faster; and a 121.5MHz homing signal.
With a 10-year battery life and approval for worldwide operation, it’s the ultimate safety device for anyone heading offshore.
“Aussies love their time on the water,” said GME’s Safety Expert, Tony Crooke. “Around 3.5 million of us enjoy spending time boating every year – often in areas without mobile phone coverage.
“This is why having the right safety gear on the water is so important and can be the defining factor in a rescue situation where every second counts.”
The MT605G EPIRB is priced around $470.
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