VMR On The Radio For Emergencies

This week, we have experienced a variety of activations, ranging from the solemn task of transporting a deceased individual, an essential, albeit sad service—to the urgent evacuation of a very sick child during extremely poor weather conditions.

One of the notable calls was a small fishing boat that broke down in 36-knot winds at night, requiring a tow to safety. At the same time, VMR1 was already engaged in an urgent Medevac operation. A second crew was called in to deploy VMR2, our 7m semirigid vessel. While I’ve been out in similar conditions with 40-knot winds during daylight, nighttime presented its own challenges. Without the ability to see the waves coming, we were hit by them unexpectedly, forcing us to slow our progress to a crawl.

Meanwhile, Canberra reported an EPIRB activation near Border Island and sent up their ultra-high-tech search jet. They put us on standby, but despite their efforts, no vessel was found at the reported location, and we were eventually stood down. It's puzzling how such incidents can occur.

On a positive note, we have been able to upgrade our radio base coverage, thanks to the support of Marine Safety Queensland. Their powerful MSQ repeaters combined with our state-of-the-art Omnicore operating system greatly enhance our range, coverage, and clarity, improving safety for the boating community.

Remember, the emergency channel 16 is reserved for essential use only. If you would like to volunteer as a radio operator or crew member, please visit vmrwhitsundays.com.au/volunteerto sign up.

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Contributed with thanks by Shane Newell, President of VMR Whitsundays.

The VMR vessel off to the rescue. Photo Sourced: VMR Whitsundays Facebook Page

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