MARINE Rescue NSW has taken its boating education program to the water for the first time, with Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage and Hawkesbury now delivering the practical on-water component of the General Boat Licence.
Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage Unit Commander Daryl Jurd said the unit was excited to be at the forefront of the service’s expansion into practical boating education.
“For the first time, we can take students from the theory they have learned in the classroom and put it into real-life practice on the water with highly trained and experienced Marine Rescue NSW volunteers,” he said.
“It will further increase our knowledge sharing and help boaters achieve their licence to a high standard and operate safely on our waterways.”
Students will learn practical skills including navigating narrow channels, anchoring correctly, using a marine radio properly, maintaining navigational situational awareness and recognising and responding appropriately to commercial vessels. Pre-launch preparation, vessel maintenance, batteries, fuel, navigation lights and safety equipment will also be emphasised, along with the importance of logging on with Marine Rescue NSW.
The practical training will be conducted on board TX 10, a 4.6-metre open-cabin centre-console vessel powered by a 90-horsepower engine and equipped with Raymarine navigation equipment. TX 10 has undergone minor modifications to accommodate up to three students at a time.
The aim is to give new boaters the knowledge and practical skills to avoid preventable incidents.
“We will be talking a lot about pre-launch preparation, logging on via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16, vessel maintenance, and safety equipment,” Jurd said.
“People aged 12 and over can participate. The theory component will be delivered during the first half of the day, with students undertaking the practical on-water component in the afternoon.”
Theory-only courses can accommodate up to 14 students, while the practical component will be limited to three students at a time to provide focused on-water instruction.
The practical component costs $180, while theory-only training costs $145 for participants aged 12 to 15 and $165 for those aged 16 and over.
Courses will generally be offered monthly, with additional courses planned for December.
The unit commander said the expansion would also provide an important additional fundraising opportunity for the volunteer units.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the addition of practical training represented an exciting new chapter in the service’s commitment to boating education and safety.
Bookings for General Boat Licence courses at Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage and Hawkesbury are available through the Marine Rescue NSW website https://www.marinerescuensw.com.au/courses-licenses/general-boat-licence-and-pwc-licence/
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