In recent months, there have been three boating-related deaths in Moreton Bay on Boxing Day and one on New Year’s Eve. The local Coast Guard has urged boaties to check their safety gear before launching and to wear life jackets at sea.
Brisbane Coast Guard Flotilla Commander Craig Bowen, from Wynnum, recently stressed the importance of checking safety gear and logging vessel registration and trip details with the Coast Guard, either via radio or online.
“There is nothing worse than getting a call about an overdue boat, but the person calling doesn’t know the make, model, registration number, or color of the vessel, or even how many people were on board,” he said.
The Coast Guard operates entirely with volunteers and boasts a fleet of nine vessels, making it the largest Coast Guard operation in Australia.
Their largest vessel is a 43-foot O’Brien with twin 450 Hp Cummins engines that can cruise at 20 knots and has rescued sinking or damaged vessels from as far away as the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast.
“Moreton Bay can become very dangerous when there is a big westerly or northerly blowing, especially if the wind is going against the tide and causing the waves to stand up,” Bowen added.
“Conditions on the Bay can change from glassy too dangerous within two hours, so it is important to monitor the weather at all times when at sea.”
The Manly Coast Guard is staffed by 28 volunteers who fund the operation through BBQ fundraisers at Bunnings and a small State Government grant to help with operating fees.
Mr. Bowen said that the State Government is conducting a Blue Water Review of rescue operations run by Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Coast Guard branches.
Both organisations are likely to be administered in the future under the Queensland Police, similar to how the Bushfire Brigades came under the Queensland Fire Service.
To register your trip, call 07 3396 5911.
