VMR 448 Mackay in Mackay, Queensland | Emergency rescue service

VMR 448 Mackay

Locality: Mackay, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4955 5448

Address: Mulherin Drive 4740 Mackay, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.vmrmackay.org.au

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• Medical and health
• Non-profit organisation
• Community organisation
• Emergency rescue service

25.01.2022 VMR Mackay was at sea for 16 hours on Sunday, responding to 4 calls for help: The day started at 8am with an EPIRB activation for a fishing vessel near Calder Island, which had run out of fuel during the night and was unable to anchor. While towing the vessel to Mackay a 2nd vessel reported engine failure just North of St. Bees Island. As soon as the 1st vessel was in the Mackay Marina, DBCT Rescue 6 was refuelled and the crew headed to St. Bees Island. During transit, 2 more... calls came in for fuel issues. One from a vessel 5 miles East of Prudhoe Island, and the other a further 10 miles Southeast. The vessel from St. Bees was towed into Mackay, DBCT Rescue again refuelled, additional fuel added, sandwiches provided to the crew by The Lighthouse Fish & Chip Shop, and the crew again headed to sea. It was well after dark by the time the crew reached the 3rd vessel, and the storms made for rougher seas. With fuel provided, the crew continued onto the 4th vessel, provided fuel, and headed for home. It was just after midnight by the time DBCT Rescue 6 was refuelled and safely back in the VMR Base. A very special thanks to both the radio operators, Peter Mackle and Peter Garone, who both volunteered extra time to ensure our crew at sea had radio coverage, and also to VTS Hay Point for coverage during the late-night return. A big day for Don (Skipper) and Gabriel, Mark, Aaron and Daryl (Crew). Also extend our thanks to the skippers of all 4 vessels, who were easy to work with and very grateful for our assistance. See more

22.01.2022 Some rattles are more annoying than an itch you can't scratch: Over the last few weeks crews had noticed a "vibration rattle" at certain times during activations on Mastermyne Rescue 5, but nothing appeared obvious. So during recent trips, checks were done to pinpoint the location of the annoying noise, and eventually the small clamps that hold the panels in the transom doors were identified as the culprit. The screws holding the clamps to the frame had worn threads, and some had completely rattled out. So today the doors got some shiny new screws, new soft, flexible O-rings, along with some Loctite and Sikaflex. Issue: Rattle evident in transom doors. Repair: Ample Rattle Remover applied. Job Done!

22.01.2022 FREE PIKELETS FROM GOUNDED YACHT: 0600hrs Mastermyne Rescue 5 is currently activated to a vessel that is aground off the coast of Mackay. UPDATE 1400hrs: All home safe. DETAILS: At 0600hrs this morning VMR Mackay activated to a call from an 11m Sailing Catamaran that had dragged anchor, and grounded on Carlisle Island. The grounding had also created a hole in one hull and the vessel had taken on some water. Mastermyne Rescue 5 with Graham (Skipper), Joline, Peter & Barney (Cr...ew) arrived with the yacht above the current tide level. With help from the yacht owner they transferred a mobile pump from Rescue 5 to the beach and were able to pump out the water and assess the damage. The hull breach was not too bad, so the mobile pump was put in place on the yacht to continue pumping during towing, and as the tide rose the crew were able to begin the tow for Mackay Harbour. The shipyard at Mackay Marina Village was alerted to be ready with the lift to take the yacht out of the water on arrival. The tow was textbook, and the yacht was taken out of the water at 1400hrs (2pm). Thanks also to Kerry in the radio room for great coverage and onshore communications with the shipyard. *And a special mention to the lady on the stricken yacht who made fresh pikelets, then had them delivered out to the crew with Jam, as they waited for the incoming tide. The crew had left without breakfast and the Pikelets were very well received. Thank you Ma'am. See more

21.01.2022 HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR BOAT? With the first weather system for cyclone season, it's time to make sure your boat is ready, and not just from winds, but heavy rain as well. For boats berthed at marinas, rivers and creeks; do your bilge pumps work, are your hatches secure, windows and doors closed, scuppers free of blockage, sails stored, etc. Is your tender secure and loose objects put inside or secured to the deck? And what about your mooring? Do you have a plan if you need to ...move your boat? For boats in backyards on trailers; have you removed the drain-plug so rain doesn't flood your batteries and tanks? Is the boat secure and tied down if needed? There are many things that can go wrong with your boat during severe winds and rain, and having a plan now removes the need to panic in the middle of severe weather. This 2009 news story from the Daily Mercury is a good reminder that heavy rain can sink larger boats, even when in safe harbour and smooth water. PLEASE CHECK YOUR BOAT SOON. https://www.dailymercury.com.au//heavy-rain-sinks-/160997/ See more

19.01.2022 To our Members, Sponsors, Donors, Business Partners, Supporting Media Outlets, and all the Boaters in the Greater Mackay Region; HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AT VMR MACKAY.

19.01.2022 It was a very busy Sunday, with multiple calls for help. We are not passing judgement, we know fuel gauges malfunction, fuel leaks happen, and plans change once at sea. But, can we please ask all boaters to 1) fill your tank EVERY TIME you launch, 2) know how much fuel you have onboard, 3) know the range of your vessel, and 4) calculate enough fuel to go out, come back, and go about again. Do not "think" you have enough fuel, do not assume the tank is full, do not solely trus...t your electric fuel gauge, do not think your boat has the same range as your mates boat, do not believe your mate who tells you he went "that far out and back" on a single tank with no problems, do not think you have enough fuel left over from the last trip to go again without refuelling. PLEASE, fill the tank and know how far you can safely go.....and just in case, please join VMR Mackay, it's only $85 per year. See more

18.01.2022 Like Santa in his sleigh, our Mastermyne Rescue 5 crew were in the giving mood this evening for one VMR member: At 4pm this afternoon Noel (radio room) had a call from the skipper of a sailing catamaran who had engine failure, literally at the last turn when berthing inside the marina. Without engine power, the 25knot winds pushed the large cat onto the small beach inside the marina, thankfully with an incoming tide. Don (Skipper) along with Dale, Emanuel, Brodie and Daryl (C...rew) took Mastermyne Rescue 5 around the corner in the marina (a 5 min journey), hooked on a tow line, and pulled the catamaran about 80 metres onto the end pontoon, to berth. With the vessel owner being a VMR Mackay member, the activation using very little fuel, and it being Christmas Eve, the crew used their discretion and told the owner they'd call it a "reverse tow" training exercise and wished him a very Merry Christmas, without any charge. "Our Crew helped turn this members Christmas Eve from a crappy breakdown story, into one that is just a bit happier, with this simple, small gesture of Christmas Spirit". See more

17.01.2022 New Years Resolution for Boaters: Please use our TRIP LOG SERVICE. It's NOT just for members, and your loved ones will thank you if we ever need to look for you. Ch 21 Nth of Mackay, Ch 80 Sth of Mackay, Ph 49555448, or the Trip Log Box on the outside of our base at the Harbour, if your outside of Radio Room hours. PLEASE Log-on (and off)

13.01.2022 VMR Mackay can now publicly share the news that we’re installing a VHF Radio Repeater on Penrith Island. Although this is an expensive project, which will require increasing our membership and fundraising efforts, we know this repeater will literally provide LIFE SAVING COMMUNICATIONS for boaters in our region for many years to come. This VHF repeater will allow radio communication with much of the offshore and reef areas we cover. More details will come soon, but due to the cost of the installation we are very grateful to have been chosen as one of the grant recipients listed below. Thank you Julieanne Gilbert. (As always, we ask people refrain from posting political comments below, as this announcement is made to recognise the support of VMR Mackay to provide safer boating services across our coverage area.)

12.01.2022 If you were lucky enough to get a boat for Christmas, or it's been awhile since you looked over the safety requirements, this page shows the safety equipment required, and recommended, for recreational vessels in Queensland. Worth the 5 mins of your time to have a look over https://www.msq.qld.gov.au//Safety-equipment-recreational-

12.01.2022 Scanning, computer folder management, organising, filing and archiving may not sound very nautical, but those skills are just as important as what we do on the water. As the new year starts we're looking for new volunteers who want to help provide safer boating for our region. In addition to our boat crews, we also have volunteer opportunities in our Radio Room (yes we train you), and Office/Admin volunteers who can help us transition to more electronic data and filing systems. So, if you or someone you know has the desire to volunteer in 2021, please send details to the volunteering page link below, or send us a Facebook message. We're looking for volunteers in all aspects of our operations, but especially some who would be willing to share their modern office administration talents with us. https://www.vmrmackay.org.au/volunteering

12.01.2022 VMR Mackay is currently responding to a 36ft sailing vessel taking on water. UPDATE - Crew is home safe, and here are the details: 9am Nick in the radio room took a call from a 36ft sailing boat near Newry Island, that was taking on water while under engine power. Charles (Skipper) along with a Peter, Stephen, Mike and Daryl (crew) loaded water pumps onto Mastermyne Rescue 5 and were underway by 10am. 3 mins later, Stephen was alert on watch and noticed a large log floating i...n the middle of the channel entrance to the marina, causing a definite navigation hazard for boats. The crew stopped and pulled the log onboard, then continued North. Winds made conditions a bit rough, but nothing too uncomfortable. Fortunately another VMR Skipper and his son (Russell and Lachlan) were boating near Newry Island and able to reach the sailing vessel in their private boat, and determined the engine cooling system had developed a fracture that was pumping cooling water into the boat, rather than the outlet port. With the engine shut down, the vessel anchored and the bilge pumps were able to empty the vessel. Mastermyne Rescue 5 arrived and the great work by Russell and Lachlan allowed an easy tow-line hook up, and the tow back to Mackay began. The 36ft sailing boat weighed about 10ton, so towing speed was only 8knots with the seas becoming a little more "fun". At 4pm the crew secured the sailing yacht to a berth in the Mackay marina. *We must thank the Skipper of the sailing yacht for his ability to steer a great line during the tow, which made the trip faster and more comfortable for everyone. AND...for his very generous $500 donation on top of his activation charge. What an incredible gesture from a guy who just had a pretty ordinary day. Thank-you Sir. See more

11.01.2022 Monday Nights Storm made for a wet and windy activation after a call for help at 8pm from a 34ft Motor Cruiser, that had broken down east of Round Top Island near Mackay. DBCT Rescue 6 was prepped, launched and underway by 9pm in dark, but dry skies. But only 5 mins into the trip heavy rain started to fall, making visibility tough, and rougher seas from the increased winds. Using navigation screens, radar, radio communication with the vessel to indicate when they could see th...e search lights on DBCT Rescue 6, and slow speed, the crew were alongside the disabled vessel by 10pm. With rain still pouring down, the crew worked in conjunction with the vessel skipper to get the towline attached. The size and weight of the vessel, combined with the weather, meant a slow and steady tow of about 6 knots to the Mackay Marina. After lashing alongside in the harbour turn-basin, just as the rain stopped, the vessel was then taken into the Marina and tied up on an outer-berth. DBCT Rescue 6 was back on the trailer and inside the VMR Base just after midnight. Thanks to Don (Skipper) and Gabriel & Daryl (Crew) was heading out so late on a Monday night, in cold and wet conditions. See more

10.01.2022 Creating a Culture of Sharing Knowledge and Experience, to Help Improve Boating Safety: We noticed some passionate feelings regarding our recent post encouraging boaters to check their fuel levels, and we understand vessels running out of fuel at sea could be frustrating for experienced mariners. But, it is not our role to pass judgement, assign blame, or embarrass local boaters. We are here to provide a professional service, and part of that service is to help educate newer ...boaters on some of the basics of safe boating. We share the many years of maritime experience that exists in our squadron, hoping that knowledge helps educate those new to the ocean. We hope newer boaters are accepting of this information in an effort to make them safer mariners and stopping them making potentially life-threatening decisions in the future. Just like our volunteers, some who come to us with very little marine experience and work their way through training to become competent crew members, we want to provide basic seamanship information in a positive and encouraging way to newer boaters. We were all new at something once and all made mistakes, but we all benefitted from those around us who took the time to share useful information they gained through experience. So yes, running out of fuel at sea is a basic mistake that shouldn’t happen, but by encouraging new boaters to fill their tanks, use a dipstick or sight-glass to confirm fuel levels, and know the range of their vessel, in a positive way, is more productive than a negative approach. We welcome all boaters to join VMR, drop by our base on a Saturday morning if they have questions on basic boating, fuel calculations, radio procedures, etc. We were all new to boating once! See more

09.01.2022 Thank-you to all the local boaters for your patience during the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation dredging project. The Brisbane will depart later today, while the Bed Leveller will stay to finish up the works. There were no reported safety issues during the project, and that is a testament to awareness shown by local boaters. Well done to all.

09.01.2022 An early start for our newest Skipper with a Breakdown Tow near Derwent Island: Around 6am this morning Geoff (Duty Skipper) took a call from a 19ft power boat with mechanical breakdown near Derwent Island. In addition to Gary (Crew), Daryl, who is our newest Skipper, was given his first activation as the Master of the Vessel, under Geoffs watchful eye. DBCT Rescue 6 was underway by 6:50am for the 30-mile run to assist the vessel. The 10-15knot winds and moderate seas meant a...n uneventful arrival, and the vessel was towed back into Mackay by 10:30am. Big thanks to the skipper of the disabled vessel for giving pin-point GPS Coordinates, and a special thanks to one of our radio operators, Andy, who was fishing in the area and helped with early morning communications. A great team effort to all to allow Daryl to complete with first official activation as a Skipper. See more

07.01.2022 This Log Would Rip The Outboard Off Your Boat: Yesterdays floating log reminded us that high tides and heavy rains can send floating debris into our rivers and close to shore. The log we removed yesterday was literally right at the entrance to the Mackay harbour, in the channel along the breakwater wall. It was only just buoyant and weighed about 90kg. Hitting it, even at slow speeds, had the potential of ripping an outboard off a boat, or worse. If you see floating debris you believe is a navigational hazard, you can call it in on your marine radio with the location, so other vessels are aware to the hazard. Please be extra careful at the mouths of creeks and rivers, and close to shore where flood water is evident. *You can also take a photo of it and send it as a message to our FB page with the time, date and location of the hazard.

01.01.2022 From our volunteer Admins, Radio Operators, Skippers, Crew Members and Management Committee, we wish you all a Very Merry Christmas Day, and safe boating through the holidays.