Fremantle Sea Rescue says boaties risking lives by not logging on

BOATIES are risking their lives when they go out on the water without logging on with a volunteer sea rescue group.

When logging on boaties radio in their call sign, registration, number of people on board, destination and the time they are expected to return.

If after 15 minutes of that return time a boat has not radioed to log off, the rescue group can initiate its procedures to start a search.

Fremantle Sea Rescue’s Mark Zuvela said as the busiest rescue group in Australia it received more than 30,000 calls every year, but there were still boaties who either refused or neglected to take the simple, safe precaution of logging on with their group.

“The waters off Perth can get very dangerous, so by logging on with your local sea rescue group it means if you run into trouble or don’t log off with us on your return we can begin the steps to start looking for you,” he said.

“Every year boaties make the same mistake of going out without letting anyone know and if they go missing we have a much harder time trying to find them.

“We can be reached 24 hours a day on VHF and 27Mhz channels and by phone and our new state-of-the-art radio over IP (ROIP) system at our Cantonment Hill marine operations building means we can easily respond any time of the day all-year round.”

Mr Zuvela said it was not just boat users who could use the service.

“We encourage not just boaties but all water users, such as kayakers, who are heading offshore to not only log in with us but also register your EPIRBs and join up with us as FSR Affiliate members,” he said.

“When you join FSR you pay an annual membership, you become a member of our database which gives us your boat details, your car and trailer details, contact information and next of kin information.”