NSW boating nightmare
NSW Police, Fire and Rescue, SES and volunteer Marine Rescue crews flat out in wild Hunter weatherMarine Rescue NSW volunteers in the Hunter region have been battling atrocious conditions to assist boaters in trouble in high winds and rough seas today (January 6).
Members of Marine Rescue Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Lemon Tree Passage have been on the water since early morning responding to several incidents.
There has even been the embarrassing sinking of a NSW Maritime patrol boat tied to a floating marina in Newcastle.
On a more serious note, a Marine Rescue Port Stephens crew was towing a disabled vessel that issued a Mayday call off Port Stephens this morning to shore.
Officers from the NSW Police Port Stephens Marine Area Command responded to the Mayday and were towing the vessel to safety when a second Mayday was received from a vessel that had lost a man overboard about six nautical miles (10km) north of Broughton Island.
Rescue vessel Port Stephens 40 has taken over the tow so Police can respond to the man overboard call.
Marine Rescue NSW Hunter Central Coast Regional Controller Neil Grieves said volunteers had been out in atrocious conditions today to assist boaters in need.
"The crew of Port Stephens 30 came to the aid of a small cruiser that struck trouble at the Salamander Hotel wharf," he said.
"Another crew from our Lemon Tree Passage unit was needed to gain control of a 40ft houseboat that had broken its mooring. There are reports of several other vessels that have broken their mooring but conditions have been too rough to attempt to retrieve these.
"A crew on board Lake Macquarie 30 also has provided urgent aid to the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club to move a vessel to safety from the prevailing winds."
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued Severe Weather Warnings for damaging winds and heavy rainfall in the Hunter and NSW Mid North Coast regions.
"These conditions are very dangerous," Mr Grieves said. "These two Maydays and other incidents have demonstrated the emergencies that can occur in weather like this.
"We urge skippers to avoid taking any risks by staying ashore until conditions improve."
More at the Bureau of Meteorology's boating weather website
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