EPIRBS are for emergencies not breakdowns

It happens every spring. Boats to put to sea with the best of intentions, but little or no preparation and planning. If they’re not left foundering due to mechanical failure they run out of fuel. So there’s an emergency call or EPIRB activation and marine authorities jump to the rescue.

While no-one is begrudging a single penny spent on saving lives due to bona fide boating emergencies, there is a lot that can be done to prevent breakdowns at sea. In just the last few weeks, we have run across various emergency services from the Top End to temperate climates recounting recent costly rescues that could be easily prevented before setting off. This year seems to be a bumper year for boating rescues tight around the Australian coastline.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Take the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services, which recently responded to two emergency beacon activations in Top End waters. The first was in the afternoon about 9 nautical miles off Dundee, 125km southwest of Darwin.

A Government aircraft and Cape Class cutter were diverted to the area to investigate. They found six people aboard a hire vessel in no apparent distress – just broken down. The aircraft monitored the vessel until management from the hire company were able to recover it.

Later that evening, an emergency beacon (EPIRB) was activated 12 miles west of Elizabeth Bay in remote east Arnhem Land. A Dornier search aircraft was launched from Cairns and Nhulunbuy police prepared to launch for a long journey to the area.

Staff from a pearling company were contacted and offered to assist in the rescue operation as they were much closer. They arrived at the beacon location and after a short search located two men in a catamaran who stated that they had been running on one engine and had run out of fuel. Both men were safe and sound and have been assisted out of their predicament — one that could have been easily avoided by better planning, equipment and maintenance.

EPIRB ACTIVATIONS
Beacon activations are initially coordinated through the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra with the assistance of local police. In the above case, the government aircraft and the staff at the pearling company were the closest assets and police thank them for responding to these incidents.

As every beacon activation is treated as an imminent danger to life, when one is activated there is usually a high cost especially if air assets are deployed. Police strongly encourage people to ensure they have a form of communication that will work in that area they are operating, such as a satellite phone.

An emergency beacon is there as a last resort to save your life. If the matter is less serious then you should have another way to get help without initiating an emergency response. Plan your trip and ensure you are adequately resourced for all contingencies.

BALLINA JET BOAT RESCUE
In another avoidable rescue, the Ballina Jet Boat Rescue crew recently assisted a yacht in distress 1.5km off Evans Head, Northern NSW. The 34ft vessel reportedly suffered mechanical malfunctions and became low on fuel Previous attempts of assistance by rescue craft south of Evans weren't successful.

Lucky for the two boaties, the jet boat surf crew reached the yachties shortly after 3.30pm and delivered 60lt of fuel so they could continue their travels to Brisbane. It was a top job, especially in navigating the dangerous conditions to assist the yacht crew.

And some weeks earlier, rescue authorities were called to motorcruiser off Port Stephens that had also run out of fuel. A number of similar incidents have occurred around Sydney. There’s usually no excuse for running out of fuel. It’s down to proper trip preparation and at least checking your gauge, dipping the tank and, if in doubt, filling it up. Keep the rescues for the real life-saving call-outs.

More about search and rescue in Australia and EPIRBs at www.amsa.gov.au/search-and-rescue/