Summer is now upon us and the level of activity on the water has definitely increased.
November generally proved to be a busy month for Coast Guard Noosa with a number of training courses being conducted, public relations activities and on-water assists.
This month also saw QF5 say farewell to Tom Offermann Real Estate, who had been their major sponsor for five years.
“We would like to acknowledge Tom for his assistance and support over the period,” Flotilla Commander Ian Hutchings said.
“At the same time, we would also like to welcome Bendigo Bank, who have taken over the role of our major sponsor and for their ongoing support to Coast Guard over the years. We are sure this will be a great relationship.”
November saw the number of marine assists nearly double over the previous month to 24.
A majority of these activations involved vessels breaking down, out of fuel or being grounded on sandbanks. There were, however, several notable assists provided by crews.
On 13 November, the QF5 radio room was contacted by a lone sailor several miles off Teewah Beach. He believed he was having a heart attack. 000 and paramedics were contacted, however no helicopter was available to assist.
A “Mayday” was declared and a QF5 crew dispatched to assist.
The patient was transferred to the Coast Guard vessel and returned to Munna, to a waiting ambulance. The patient’s vessel was returned to Munna by a Coast Guard crew and it is understood that the patient is now recovering in a Brisbane Hospital.
An early morning crossing of the bar by a 4.25 tinnie proved hazardous when it overturned on the bar. The single occupant was picked up by a nearby fishing vessel, uninjured. Some equipment from the vessel was recovered, however the vessel could not be located.
On 19 November, a sports craft became entangled in a heavy-duty cargo net in the vicinity of Makepeace Island.
The net could not be cleared and resulted in the vessel being towed back to Noosa Heads.
The Radio Calls, Trips and Telephone calls were well up from the previous month and certainly above the level of this time 12 months ago.
Coast Guard Noosa has been advised that the replacement for its primary rescue vessel, John Waddams, is proceeding and the replacement is now out for tender.
Advice has been provided that the replacement will be approximately 12 months away.
With the changes to their major sponsor, the secondary rescue vessel has been renamed “Bendigo Bank”.
“We are grateful to our small team of sponsors for their ongoing support of our service to the community and we would like to wish all our supporter the best for the festive season,” Flotilla Commander Ian Hutchings said.
