Jeff is winched to safety.
SOLAS at Shark Island MR Port Stephens give hope in the darkness
P
ropped up in the darkness against a rugged rocky outcrop and half paralysed was not how the skipper of a newly acquired 11 metre motor cruiser expected to spend his maiden voyage. The proud skipper had prepared well for the journey from Botany Bay to Nelson Bay, and planned to use his new pride and joy Waterfront to take his young children adventure cruising and fishing. A few minutes earlier Marine Rescue Port Stephens Watch Officer Lee Ryman had commenced his 7pm shift at the Nelson Head base, and just like the sinking skipper in distress, the Port Stephens Watch Keeper was on his own. Around 15 minutes into the shift Lee heard a quick VHF transmission
18 MARINE RESCUE NSW | SOUNDINGS
to the base, but there was no voice. He thought it was a bit curious. Then at 7:20pm he received a mobile phone call from the distressed skipper. “Yeah Lee, this is Waterfront... Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”. Immediately Lee Ryman’s years of Marine Rescue NSW training kicked in and he prepared to launch what quickly became a multi-agency rescue operation. At times the mobile phone call was inaudible, with the skipper appearing to be muttering and unable to give his exact position. The Watch Officer asked: “Whereabouts are you located?” The skipper replied, “Just off Shark Island, Fingal Island… I believe. I can’t tell. Um, I am outside
the entrance, I think, I don’t know, I don’t know.” Immediately Lee knew the skipper’s vessel was in a dangerous area that is a haven for protruding and submerged rocks. “How many people on board?” asks the Watch Officer. “I hit pretty hard, just one. Boat’s going down.” The dazed skipper replied. Watch Officer: “Do you have a radio on board?” The skipper’s reply was indecipherable, muttering sounds. Watch Officer replies: “I didn’t hear that sorry?” The skipper replied: “I just tried calling you on it. I don’t know if it is working at the moment….I got a knock on the head, was lying down
on the deck for a while, just come to.” Watch Officer: “Ok, do you think you have hit a rock or something?” Skipper: “Yeah, I ran into it pretty hard, I was trying to follow the GPS”. With the vessel about to go under, a calm Lee Ryman guided the injured skipper through the steps to activate his EPIRB. Watch Officer: “Is it a GME?” Skipper: “Yep. Green light flashing…yep on. Putting out little flashes.” Watch Officer: “Yep, get in your life jacket if you’ve not already, and ah, I will just check everything…… I’m going to ring the authorities and get someone headed your way. Do you have any injuries?” Skipper: “I don’t know. I was lying
