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“This highlights a crucial safety concern,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“If communication systems on these vessels had also failed, marine rescue would have had no way of knowing they were in distress or even missing.<\/p>\n
“The team has been actively responding to incidents, including a jet boat dispatched to assist a vessel up North Creek and the BA30 vessel deployed offshore to help a jet ski in trouble.”<\/p>\n
Two marine rescue volunteers also took to the air to observe and assess ongoing operations as part of their skills and training.<\/p>\n
It shapes as a big year for Ballina Marine Rescue who will soon have a new state-of-the-art rescue boat.<\/p>\n
The rescue service’s vessel BA30, used for blue water rescues in open seas, is 11 years old and will be replaced midyear.<\/p>\n
It aims to raise more than $150,000 to contribute to the cost of a new vessel, with the remainder covered by the NSW Government.<\/p>\n
The vessel will have upgraded features such as thermal imaging for night rescues and a hull better suited to crossing the notorious Ballina bar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLINA Marine Rescue is calling on the community to help raise vital funds with plans to upgrade its service. The team will run a barbecue on Sunday, January 12 at North Wall with people encouraged to attend breakfast between 7am-11am. The group has already had its first barbecue of the year the previous weekend with […]<\/p>\n