Declaring an Emergency
If an emergency arises whilst on the water, you can contact VMR Brisbane on our After Hours Emergency mobile number 0428 022 881, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively, contact the Emergency Services on 000, 112 or 106 if you have a hearing or speech impairment. You can also use VHF radio channels 16 and 63.
We require the following information so that we can deal with your situation as quickly and efficiently as possible:
- Vessel Name / Call Sign
- Your Position (Visible Landmarks and Lat and Long)
- Nature of Emergency
- Number of People on Board (POB)
- Contact Details (Mobile Phone Number and Radio Frequency being Used)
- Vessel Description including Registration Number, Make and Type of Vessel
Boat Towing in Moreton Bay
The obligation to provide assistance to other boaties is a tradition as old as the sea itself. Towing another boat has many risks including damage to your boat, damage to the disabled boat which may result in litigation or more importantly, there is high potential for serious injury to yourself or others. Boat towing experience is necessary as you need to take into consideration they type of boat you are towing, the size of the boat, how the boat will sit on the water and wind and tide. The tow becomes more dangerous if you do not have the correct equipment to perform the tow.
Reasons to Call VMR Brisbane
Boats might float and drift with seeming ease, but they’re still heavy. On the water, the forces of wind and waves can produce tremendous stresses. Every type of boat tows in a different manner and can put an enormous strain on your engines and props. Towing a smaller boat in calm water is one thing, but pulling a boat the size of your own or larger when wind and waves are up is quite another. VMR Brisbane’s main rescue vessel has two 250hp motors for this exact reason. If one engine is damaged, we can usually still perform the requested tow.
The best and safest way to render towing assistance is to go over to the disabled vessel and ensure that everyone aboard is safe, unhurt and wearing life jackets. Ask them if they have enough water and if they are members with a marine rescue organisation and whether they have a radio or mobile phone to make the call. If possible, stay close by to the disable vessel to offer moral support if they do not have an operating radio or mobile phone onboard and wait for the rescue vessel to arrive.
Abandoning Ship
- Ensure everyone has brightly coloured fully operational life jackets on and they activated. Life jackets should be to Australian Standards and have reflective tape.
- Ensure you make a radio call to a local marine rescue organisation on VHR channels 16 or 63 or dial 000 or 112 from your mobile phone. You can dial 106 if you have a hearing or speech impairment.
- Set off EPIRB, flares and use horn to attract attention of nearby boats if required.
- Try signalling another vessel with a heliograph (mirror), V Sheet or flash a torch at night.
- Stay with the vessel as long as you possibly can.
- Set up life raft after the decision has been made to abandon ship.
- Collect your survival grab-bag which should be water resistant and buoyant. Your grab-bag should contain flares, first aid kit, torch, mirror and water.
- Grab your EPIRB and mobile phone if safe to do so.