SEA RESCUE – our news section

Last night Fremantle Sea Rescue’s hard-working crew, their partners, and many of the group’s friends celebrated the end of one the busiest peak summer periods on record and welcomed in an exciting new year. The group took over the private Deck Bar at Little Creatures and enjoyed food and drinks at one of the best sightseeing spots in the harbour. It was a sweltering night but a great opportunity to wind down and catch up with old friends and new faces.

Some special awards were also presented in recognition of an extraordinary effort put in by many of the volunteers, particularly during the World Sailing Championships last December. The list of prize winners is at the end of this article and many thanks to the president of Metro Sea Rescue – Roger Howell – for presenting the awards.

The Deck Bar

In 2011 Fremantle Sea Rescue responded to 673 rescues, making us Australia’s busiest sea rescue group. During the sailing championships and over the Christmas period the majority of our crew put in three times (or more) the required minimum number of shifts. In addition to which many also assisted with maintenance or servicing well into the night in order to stay on top of proactive schedules.

Through a programme of marketing for specific volunteer roles in the group, we are currently enjoying receiving position enquiries at the rate of 1 or 2 per day. This means our ever increasing rescue response and workload will be handled by well over a hundred volunteers by the end of 2012. However, while these new recruits are being trained up and gaining sea time, the existing volunteers continue to contribute an outstanding amount of time and effort, and achieve a level of service and professionalism of which they can be very proud.

There is no doubt that the spirit of voluntary sea rescue in Fremantle is as strong as ever, and in 2012 Fremantle Sea Rescue will build on its strengths to be recognised as both the busiest and the best sea rescue group in Australia.

The Crew and Friends

Dave and Ian

Leandra

The Deck fills up

Chalkboard sign

Roger Howell and Pasquale Mezzatesta

Phil gives a speech

Crew Contribution Awards

- Pasquale Mezzatesta, Paul Oen.

Outstanding Commitment Awards

- David Farrell, Nick Hill, Anders Savill, Ray Constantine, Rod O’Connor, Cam Macmillan, Ian Fry, Mike Meehan and Andrew Wright.

Congratulations to all of them.

Many thanks to our sponsor Stage and Studio Productions of West Perth for helping us out with stage equipment at very short notice.

Following a comprehensive review of crew safety and lifejacket options, the team at Fremantle Sea Rescue held their monthly training night at Melville Aquatic Centre to test out a variety of lifejackets: everything from the cheap-and-cheerful, right up to the state-of-the-art self-inflating yokes with automated man overboard alarms.

The results of the training and testing were interesting, particularly as the most expensive PFD being tested was far from being the best performer.

The crew practised entering the water while wearing jackets, swimming in them, towing other people who may not be able to swim, forming survival huddles and much more.

As a bonus we were also able to pull the cord on the 25 man self-inflating life-raft that was donated to the group as a training aide (photos to follow).

Future crew training in early 2012 will see all our crew being trained up to Advanced Resuscitation level in first aid, as well as extensive off-site fire fighting training.

December is one of the busiest times for Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue and in the last couple of days the group has attended a number of incidents.

Rescue vessel Gemini 1 got a call to rescue two people that had been returning from Rottnest Island when their boat started to take on water. The people were saved just off the coast of North Fremantle and their sinking vessel was towed back to a safe port, with skipper Nick Hill and crew Cameron Macmillan.

In the early hours of the morning a husband and wife needed assistance with their broken down vessel in the Swan River at 01:00am, skipper Phil Scanlan and crew Silke Aichele got the couple back safely.

There was no rest the following evening either, as a yacht nearly foundered on the rocks in the entrance to Fremantle’s Fishing Boat Harbour due to engine failure. Due to the quick actions of skipper Nick Hill and crew Keith Emin on rescue vessel Vigilant, the yacht was safely returned back to the harbour.

The first week into the Perth 2011 World Sailing Championships and Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group (FVSRG) have been called to duty to assist with a sinking event support boat.

We received a radio call on the race emergency channel 67 into the Perth 2011 Race Bridge Control, which is the FVSRG Headquarters at the end of Mews Road. At the same time the skipper David Farrell on rescue vessel Vigilant with crew David Hadlow who were approximately one mile away looking after a race that was going on the water, they also heard the emergency call on channel 67 and immediately headed off to assist the sinking vessel.

The people were taken out of the water and the vessel had sunk just below the waterline, we were told this was due to a wave breaking over the stern of the support boat, which made it roll over while they were picking up racing buoys. Rescue vessel Vigilant immediately took the sunken vessel in tow, while the people were taken ashore by another rescue vessel.

The 7-meter Aluminum support vessel was towed safely while mostly remaining under water from Leighton race course to Fremantle Sailing Club. Skipper Paul Oen and crew Brad Collins backed up the situation with rescue vessel Mariner 1.

The rescue team got the vessel upright a couple of times, but when they stopped it would go back under the water again. It remained at the boat ramp of Fremantle Sailing Club with only the bow popping out, until the owners arranged for a salvage company to lift it, which they did later in the day.

The rescue went very well as the Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue vessel was on scene in a minute’s notice, the people on board the sinking vessel were okay and the vessel was towed back to a safe port.

It is great to see all our emergency preparations are paying of for this sailing event, as FVSRG has many key roles during the World Sailing Championships, where our Headquarters is the full communications bridge, our rescue vessels are looking after all people on the race courses and we are the sole aligned charity for the event.

During the Perth 2011 event, the public got the rare opportunity to take part in a flare demonstration that was conducted by Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group (FVSRG) on Bathers Beach in Fremantle.

Ten members of the public got the chance to learn the importance of boaters carrying flares and the rare opportunity to be able to let off five orange smoke flares and five red handheld flares.

The demonstration allowed the members of the public to experience how to use handheld flares in a safe manner and to show just how effective they can be when needed.

FVSRG hopes nobody ever needs to let off a flare, however we do encourage people to make sure they’re familiar with their flares and here are some general points of interest about them: -

Use of Flares
Always follow the instructions of the flare manufacturer exactly. Serious injury or property damage can occur if these devices are used incorrectly. Always be sure there are no easily combustible materials nearby that could catch fire because of malfunction or human error.

Hand Flare Safety
While standing, ignite the flare and hold it away from your body at a 45 degree angle. Do not hold a burning flare overhead, it could drop sparks on your head! Once the flare burns out place the remains in a non-combustible container or soak with water to avoid accidental ignition of other materials.

If you find yourself in the water ignite the flare while holding it away from your body. In this case it is essential to hold the flare as high out of the water as possible so it is visible to rescuers. Wave the signal from side to side over your head. Avoid looking at the flare while it is burning to avoid eye damage and to preserve night vision.

Flares can ignite spilled fuel floating on the surface of the water. Gasoline is much more easily ignited than diesel fuel but care should be taken when lighting a hand flare if any type of fuel was spilled.

Storage of Flares
Flares are stored at the discretion of the master of the vessel. In general, flares and other pyrotechnic signals are to be stored in a waterproof container in an accessible location. The container should be closed with a latch which cannot be locked. The container needs to be checked regularly for moisture.

Expiration Dates of Flares
All flares have an expiration date printed clearly on the outside of each device. Expired flares cannot be disposed of in the trash as they are hazardous waste. Properly dispose of expired flares at a hazardous waste facility or follow disposal instructions from the manufacturer or your safety equipment contractor.

In the eyes of governing agencies an expired flare is the same as no flare at all. Commercial vessels are inspected frequently enough that expiring flares will be noticed and replaced well ahead of their end of service date. On private vessels the skipper should make sure the flares are in date.

History of Flares
It is known through historic depictions that Vikings and Polynesian voyagers used fire signals to communicate while at sea. In the 1870’s the wife of a deceased naval scientist patented and further developed an elaborate scheme to communicate with variously colored flares. Martha Coston’s patent was eventually purchased and used by the US Navy.

It was a very busy weekend for Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group (FVSRG) and our strategically placed rescue vessels really paid off again for one lucky boater. The response time for Mariner 1 to get a sinking boat between the Crawley boat shed and Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) was approximately 60 seconds.

FVSRG skipper Michael Kevill and crew Phil McKeown were on scene with the stricken 28 foot boat with high flow salvage pumps and the rescue team towed the boat to the beach where it nestled safely on the sand with no damage to the shafts.

Stuart Walton the General Manager of RPYC kindly came down to assist with an emergency lift of the vessel at their yacht club. Stuart is always very keen to help the boating public and through a close working partnership with FVSRG Stuart and his team are on hand at a moments notice for full support.

FVSRG skipper Andrew Duffy and crew David Hadlow provided further assistance, along with the very kind backup support from the WA Water Police, who provided an extra salvage pump and much needed refreshments.

The Mariner 1 team were then off to another rescue in the river and worked hard late into the night.

Quick reminder please make sure the bilge alarms on your vessels are in good working order, as this helped this boater raise the alarm early on, which definitely saved his boat.

We are excited to let you know the Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue stand is up and running at the Perth 2011 Worlds Village. Come and visit us at stand number 52 to say G’day.  Also check out our latest merchandise, as we have some new and exciting items on sale for fundraising support, to help save lives at sea.

Brand new in store, the Sea Rescue t-shirts are a great way to show your support for your favourite WA sea rescue group.

Wear them on the beach, wear them on the boat, wear them in nightclub.  Be the envy of the high street with the first in the upcoming spring/summer range from Fremantle Sea Rescue.  (Available in any colour, as long as it’s red)

They’re just 25 bucks; to buy one today just click here to go through to our online store.

At approximately 12:30pm on Saturday 19^th November 2011, Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue received an emergency call to attend to 60-foot wooden vessel that was taking on water just out side Fremantle Port.

Rescue vessel R100 with senior skipper Malcolm Evans, crew Mike Kevill, Chris Robertson, Ray Smith and Sam Willis onboard took off at speed to assist. Rescue vessel Reliant with skipper Phil Scanlan and crew Phil McKeown following at speed as backup to R100.

When the rescue teams arrived on scene the people onboard were bailing out water with buckets, due to their bilge pumps not working anymore. The rescue crew jumped on board the sinking vessel with two high flow salvage pumps and to assist the people on board.

The amount of water already in the vessel and the amount that was still flowing in, raised the concern for R100 to start towing the vessel to a safe port. There was an attempt to tow the vessel, however the situation had deteriorated to the point whereby the decision was made to rescue the people off the sinking vessel.

The vessel is now in approximately 7 meters of water, just north of the North Mole of Fremantle Port and out of the direct line of boating traffic. However please approach the area with caution until the salvage teams have removed the vessel from the area. The really good news is that all the people onboard were rescued safely and taken back to shore.

The search for the missing Filipino sailor who fell overboard from a bulk carrier yesterday continued off Rottnest Island at first light this morning with sea and air search teams.

Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue deployed two rescue vessels; R100 with senior skipper David Farrell, senior crew Paul Oen and crew Silke Aichele. Accompanied by rescue vessel Vigilant with skipper Andrew Duffy, crew David Hadlow and crew Brad Collins. Louis Botes Fremantle Sea Rescue crew was also onboard rescue vessel Avail with skipper Andrew Wright from Cockburn Sea Rescue.

Fremantle Sea Rescue skippers said conditions were rough, but better than what they were yesterday.