Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state have experienced their busiest start to a boating season on record, performing 460 search and rescue missions in October, including 130 emergency responses, safely returning 989 people to shore.
For the Illawarra there were 43 search and rescue missions including 17 emergency responses with 78 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Illawarra units, Port Kembla was involved in 8 operations.
“It is concerning that 44% of our responses were for engine failure. Being the start of the boating season, it is clear many skippers were caught out by a lack of maintenance and took to the water without ensuring their vessels were in good working order,” Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said.
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