Marine Rescue NSW volunteers across the state performed 298 search and rescue missions in September, safely returning 659 people to shore, including 77 emergency responses.
Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking was the busiest unit in the state for the first time this year, completing 43 missions.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie, which is consistently among the Service’s most in-demand unit, was third busiest with 35 responses.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews commended boaters on and around Lake Macquarie for heeding boating safety advice and weather warnings during the month.
“Boating requires a huge amount of personal responsibility and accountability, and boaters on Lake Macquarie took notice of the advice last month,” he said.
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie also recorded a significant increase in local Log Ons over the past three months, with 1,449 vessels logged on, up from 860 during the same period last year, indicating more boaters are making Log On part of their pre-launch routine.
“We would like to see that continue,” Commissioner Andrews said.
Following the second busiest winter on record for Marine Rescue NSW, volunteers across the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter Central Coast, Illawarra and Monaro all experienced a dip in on-water responses during September.
“Anytime we see a reduction in missions, it is a huge win for boating safety and the incredible work our volunteers do,” the Commissioner said.
While on-water rescue demand eased across the state, Greater Sydney experienced record demand, with volunteers performing 156 search and rescue missions in September and returning more than 350 people safely to shore.
Greater Sydney September mission tracker:
2026 – 156
2025 – 141
2024 – 109
2023 – 137
2022 – 93
“Demand for our volunteers across Greater Sydney is high, with our crews responding to a significant number of boaters requiring assistance,” Commissioner Andrews said.
Since the start of the year, crews across the region have performed more than 1,150 missions, returning almost 2,750 people safely to shore.
“That is a huge amount of work for our volunteers across Sydney Harbour and surrounding waters, with more than half of those responses involving preventable issues such as engine failure, running out of fuel or flat batteries,” the Commissioner said.
“It is vitally important that all boaters put the effort into preparation before heading out.
“Make sure your vessel is in good working order, carry enough fresh fuel, always wear a lifejacket and Log On with Marine Rescue NSW, every trip, every time.”
Last month, volunteer radio operators managed 16,700 calls, including 10 MAYDAYs and kept watch over almost 22,000 people on board vessels that had Logged On with Marine Rescue NSW.
“Logging On takes about 60 seconds through the free Marine Rescue NSW app or on VHF Channel 16. It means our volunteers can keep watch for your safe return and initiate a search if you go overdue,” Commissioner Andrews said.
“It is a quick and simple step that might just save your life if things don’t go to plan on the water.”
ALL NUMBERS NEED UPDATING
September 2026 by the numbers:
- 298 search and rescue missions
- 77 emergency responses
- 659 people safely returned to shore
- 16,700 radio calls managed
- 21,996 people on board Logged On vessels
- 4,849 Log Ons
Breakdown of September 2026 search and rescue missions by region
NORTHERN RIVERS: 14 search & rescue missions including 9 emergency responses with 54 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Northern Rivers units – Point Danger, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Ballina, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba & Wooli.
Location of highest demand: Point Danger 7
MID NORTH COAST: 20 search & rescue missions including 8 emergency responses with 45 people safely returned to shore across all 9 Mid North Coast units – Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Trial Bay, Lord Howe Island, Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Crowdy Harrington & Forster Tuncurry.
Locations of highest demand: Port Macquarie 8, Forster Tuncurry 4, Trial Bay 4
HUNTER CENTRAL COAST: 77 search & rescue missions including 21 emergency responses with 145 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Hunter Central Coast units – Port Stephens, Lemon Tree Passage, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes, Brisbane Water & Terrigal.
Locations of highest demand: Lake Macquarie 35, Brisbane Water 15, Port Stephens 12
GREATER SYDNEY **REGION RECORD** 156 search & rescue missions including 23 emergency responses with 353 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Greater Sydney units – Hawkesbury, Cottage Point, Broken Bay, Sydney – State Communications Centre, Port Jackson, Middle Harbour & Botany Port Hacking.
Locations of highest demand: Botany Port Hacking 43, Sydney State Communications Centre 37, Middle Harbour 23, Port Jackson 21
ILLAWARRA: 22 search & rescue missions including 9 emergency responses with 46 people safely returned to shore across all 7 Illawarra units – Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Jervis Bay, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla & Kioloa.
Locations of highest demand: Jervis Bay 6, Sussex Inlet 5, Port Kembla 5
MONARO: 9 search & rescue missions including 7 emergency responses with 16 people safely returned to shore across all 8 Monaro units – Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Merimbula, Eden, Alpine Lakes & Moama.
Locations of highest demand: Narooma 2, Merimbula 2, Batemans Bay 2
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer‑based, not‑for‑profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe across the state. Our 3,400 trained volunteers support communities through search and rescue operations, marine radio monitoring and boating safety education.
