Exercises build rescue skill and capability

Exercises build rescue skill and capability to

Specialists join forces in offshore searches and new desktop program.

More than 200 volunteers from 25 MRNSW units have honed their search and rescue skills and gained valuable incident management experience in three regional exercises over the past two months.

Search and Rescue Exercises have been staged at Bermagui, Forster-Tuncurry and Yamba in the first three events of the 2021 regional training series, with the Sydney SAREX to round out the calendar in late June.

The exercises gave volunteers the opportunity to work together and with their colleagues from other emergency services both on the water and on desktop exercises on shore.

MRNSW Deputy Commissioner Alex Barrell said the exercises were a major component of the organisation’s professional training program for its members.

“Our volunteers are trained to the highest standards for their roles and the on-water experience they gain from a SAREX helps keep them rescue-ready around the clock,” he said. “These joint exercises are staged along the coastline each year to build marine search and rescue skills and cooperation between agencies to ensure we can all operate seamlessly.

“This is essential to ensure that we have the best possible chance of finding and rescuing someone in the water as soon as possible in an emergency, when time is always of the essence.”

Personnel from the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving NSW took part in all three events.

This year’s search exercises were based on a scenario involving a search for multiple victims of a large-scale aircraft emergency.

Director of Operations Andrew Cribb said the on-shore exercise program had been re-shaped to provide volunteers with experience in communications, logistics, incident management and navigation.

“The desktop exercise, staged at the same time as the on-water activities, provides our members with an introduction to the various roles that are involved in the successful management of any major emergency,” he said.

“Our people also have the opportunity to learn more about the responsibilities and capabilities of our rescue partners, who explain their roles and take part in a Question and Answer session.”

Media training was introduced for the first time this year.

Units taking part in the Monaro SAREX were: Batemans Bay, Bermagui, Eden, Merimbula, Moama, Narooma and Tuross.

MR Camden Haven, Crowdy Harrington, Forster-Tuncurry, Lemon Tree Passage, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens and Trial Bay assembled for the Mid North Coast/Hunter event.

MR Ballina, Brunswick, Cape Byron, Coffs Harbour, Evans Head, Iluka Yamba, Point Danger, Wooli and Woolgoolga joined the Northern Rivers exercise.

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Safe! The crew on board MR Wooli vessel Wooli 30 rescue a ‘victim’ from a life raft in choppy conditions off Yamba. Photo: Josh Stangl.

ensure seamless response to emergencies

The class of Forster ‘21 ... more than 70 volunteers from nine units took part in the Mid North Coast SAREX in May, along with members of the NSW Police Marine Area Command, Surf Life Saving NSW, AMSA and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Photo: Brad Whittaker.

MR Brunswick RWC duo Gabriel Wuyts and Robert Winter. Back from the sea ... Northern Rivers SAREX participants and rescue vessels from MR Wooli, Iluka Yamba, Ballina and Evans Head at the completion of the search exercise off Yamba. Photo: Jonathon Wilcock.