Flat Batteries, Old Fuel and Record Rescues: Marine Rescue’s Warning to Boaters

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have just had their busiest August on record, and they are bracing for more as the weather warms up and the spring school holidays send Sydney families back onto the water.

Crews across the state completed 273 search and rescue missions in August, including 97 emergency responses, and brought 538 people safely back to shore. That beats the previous August high of 267 missions set in 2022 and caps off the Service’s second busiest winter ever, with 762 missions between June and August.

Greater Sydney was the busiest region in the state last month, with 94 missions and 204 people returned to shore. Middle Harbour, one of the Marine Rescue units serving Sydney Harbour and home to several Lane Cove volunteers, was one of the three busiest Greater Sydney units with 13 missions, behind the Sydney State Communications Centre with 24 and Botany Port Hacking with 22.

Most call-outs are avoidable

Here is the number that should make every Lane Cove boatie wince: 55 per cent of August call-outs were for engine, battery or fuel problems. Not storms, not collisions. Flat batteries, old fuel and poorly maintained engines.

“Old fuel, tired batteries and poorly maintained engines are common reasons boaters end up stranded or in trouble on the water,” Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said.

“A few simple checks before you leave can make the difference between a great day on the water and a call for help.”

For anyone who has had the tinnie sitting in the driveway since Easter, that means checking the engine, making sure the battery still holds charge and checking whether the fuel has been sitting around too long before the first trip out.

Spring holidays are peak season for rescues

NSW spring school holidays begin on Monday 28 September, with students returning for Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October. The official boating season also kicks off in October, and Commissioner Andrews said Marine Rescue units consistently see an increase in recreational boaters and paddlers during this period.

“During the two-week spring holiday break last year, our crews were in extremely high demand, performing 348 search and rescue missions and safely returning 825 people to shore,” he said.

“Our volunteers have experienced an exceptionally busy winter, culminating in a record August, and we are now preparing for another increase in activity as the weather warms up and families head out on the water during the spring school holidays.”

Lane Cove River is a magnet for kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, fishers and small boat owners as soon as the sun comes out, and the Commissioner’s message applies as much to a paddler at Burns Bay as it does to a cruiser heading out through the Heads.

“If the weather or conditions aren’t favourable, don’t put yourself, your family or other people on the water at risk,” he said.

Log On every single time

The one habit Marine Rescue wants every boater to adopt is Logging On. In August, volunteer radio operators managed 19,731 radio calls, including four MAYDAYs and five PAN PANs, and kept watch over 23,377 people aboard Logged On vessels.

“If the unexpected happens, Logging On gives rescuers a vital head start and, when it comes to emergencies, every second matters,” Commissioner Andrews said.

“Don’t be the person who overlooks it and finds themselves in a life-threatening situation. Logging On ensures our dedicated radio operators keep watch for your safe return.”

You can Log On through the free Marine Rescue NSW app or on VHF Channel 16. Download the app before the holidays, not while you are drifting.

Advice from a Lane Cove Marine Rescue volunteer

Lane Cove local David Beeforth is a Senior Crew Volunteer with Marine Rescue Middle Harbour and one of several local residents who volunteer with Marine Rescue. When ITC spoke with him last October, his advice was simple.

“Wear a life jacket if you’re heading off, always log on with Marine Rescue. Just be safe and take it easy out there,” David told ITC.

With Middle Harbour and Port Jackson the nearest Marine Rescue bases to Lane Cove, it is worth knowing what to do while help is on the way. You can read our full interview with David here.

Your pre-launch checklist

• Run the engine and check the battery before you leave home
• Check whether fuel has been sitting around too long
• Check the weather and tides, and be prepared to call it off
• Make sure everyone has the correct lifejacket and wear it
• Download the Marine Rescue NSW app and Log On before you set off
• Carry a charged phone or VHF radio

Want to get involved?

Marine Rescue NSW has more than 3,500 volunteers across 46 units and is always recruiting, including for boat crew and radio operator roles at the Sydney communications centre in Belrose. Training to become competent crew takes around a year. Find out more about volunteering here.

August 2026 by the numbers

• 273 search and rescue missions statewide, a record August
• 97 emergency responses
• 538 people safely returned to shore
• 94 missions in Greater Sydney, the busiest region in NSW
• 13 missions from the Middle Harbour unit
• 19,731 radio calls managed
• 6,110 Log Ons
• 55 per cent of responses related to engine, battery and fuel issues

Source: Marine Rescue NSW