VMR Hervey Bay

About VMR Hervey Bay

VMR Hervey Bay provides the boating public in the Fraser Coast waters with a professional rescue service, available on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The Squadron operates from its Base at Urangan Boat Harbour, with an operational area inside Fraser Island from Stewart Island in the Great Sandy Strait to Long Shoal situated approximately 14 NM NNW of Sandy Cape and across to Theodolite Creek, just north of Woodgate. Our dedicated Skippers, Crews and Radio Operators are all highly trained, with vessels and crews prepared to go out in all weathers, day or night.

Operational Information

Our Rescue Vessels are Hyne Timber Rescue – an 8 metre Noosa Cat with a top speed of 47 knots. – and Rescue III – a 7.6m Rigid-Hulled Inflatable with a top speed of 40 knots.

Marine Rescue Hervey Bay is a 100% Volunteer Organisation, dedicated to the preservation of life at sea. We provide radio services to vessels (monitor emergency channels, log vessels on/off, weather broadcasts) and assist with vessel breakdowns for distressed and disabled vessels. Our Squadron works in conjunction with the Water Police on a variety of activations including Search and Rescue, and with Queensland Ambulance Service on Medivac missions, which include sick and injured patients from vessels at sea, or from Fraser Island.

You can join Marine Rescue Hervey Bay online or through our Admin office. As a member you have peace of mind in knowing that we have your details such as boat registration and name, description of boat, trailer registration and contact numbers stored in our database, should you get into difficulties. Membership benefits include free or reduced towing charge if you need assistance on the water, a copy of our free magazine Rescue One emailed to you each quarter, and in addition we hold regular Radio Courses. We strongly recommend that all boat operators log on with our Radio Room whenever they go out on the water. Trained Radio Operators monitor VHF channels 16, 67, 73 (local area) and 22 (north of Fairway Beacon), as well as 27 MHz channels 88 and 91. Our Radio Room is manned every day from 0600 to 1800 hours, and after hours VTS Gladstone monitors channel 16 and 67 for emergencies only. Our Admin office is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 2.00pm excluding public holidays.

Mobile phones should not be relied upon as a substitute for a marine radio. They are not designed for marine use and have proven unreliable at sea. The best form of communication on the water is a VHF marine radio. If you are considering purchasing a VHF radio, please remember that you are required by law to have a radio licence to operate the set. Marine Rescue Hervey Bay runs regular radio courses throughout the year to enable you to obtain your licence. These courses are FREE to members (there is a cost however, for the Radio Manual and the licence application fee).

A common misconception is that Marine Rescue is state funded like Police, Ambulance or Fire Services. In fact we receive limited Government assistance, and depend almost totally on community support through membership subscriptions, sponsorships, donations and fundraising events to cover equipment, running costs and maintenance of our rescue vessels.

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