Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie

What Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie does

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie (MRLM) is a volunteer-based not-for-profit search and rescue organization operating from Swansea Heads in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the broader Marine Rescue NSW network and serves recreational boaters on Lake Macquarie and adjacent coastal waters out to 30 nautical miles offshore. The organization operates a continuously manned 24/7/365 radio base and SARCC (Search and Rescue Coordination Centre) opened in November 2020, supported by 184 trained volunteers and 6 paid staff. Its asset base includes two Naiad RHIB rescue vessels (LM30 and LM31, the latter capable of 42 knots) and three Sea-Doo GTX 170 Rescue Water Craft, all equipped with Raymarine navigation suites, FLIR infrared cameras, radar, and sonar.

The organization's revenue model is multi-streamed and donation-driven: tax-deductible donations, NSW Government grants, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (Platinum Plus through Bronze tiers with sponsors such as Glencore, IMB Bank, McDonald Jones Homes, and Daracon Group), recurring Radio Club memberships at $40/year, twice-yearly fundraising raffles (current grand prize valued at over $12,000), and fee-for-service training courses covering General Boat Licence ($165 adults / $145 young persons), PWC Licence ($60 adults / $145 young persons), and SROCP Radio Licence. Go-to-market is community-led: volunteer engagement at shopping centres, Bunnings stores, festivals and markets, supported by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) and the Marine Rescue NSW mobile app. Services include emergency response, log-on/log-off vessel monitoring, weather/tidal reporting, radio checks, and coordination of 2,632 Swansea Bridge openings in 2025.

In 2025, MRLM recorded 594 assists, 1,201 persons assisted, 4,584 vessels logged on, 21,350 radio and phone calls, and 297 search and rescue missions in the first half of the year alone, positioning it as one of the busiest Marine Rescue NSW units. Operational oversight sits with Unit Commander Jim Wright, and the unit operates under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command. The unit evolved from the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, with Margaret Teal — a 35-year volunteer and first Unit Commander — awarded Life Membership in November 2025.

Name

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie

Legal name

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie

Website

https://marinerescuelakemacquarie.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie is a volunteer-based not-for-profit organization operating 24/7 maritime search and rescue on Lake Macquarie and NSW coastal waters. It serves recreational boaters via a 184-volunteer radio base, a fleet of two Naiad RHIBs and three Rescue Water Craft, training courses, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Rescue Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAGAJ

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response & EMS Coordination

SECONDARYTLAHAIAA

Emergency Towage & Rescue (Disabled Vessel Assistance)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Marine Salvage, Wreck Removal & Emergency Response

SECONDARYTLAHAHAH

Salvage Support Towage (Refloating/Wreck Removal Assistance)

Transportation & Logistics/Ports, Terminals & Maritime Services/Towage & Tugboat Services

Keywords

• Marine rescue services
• Volunteer search rescue
• Boating safety monitoring
• Marine radio communications
• Boat licence training

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea Heads

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Post-assist and general donations accepted from public. Marine Rescue NSW is registered as a deductible gift recipient (DGR) and any donations over $2 are tax deductible.
2. Government Grants: NSW Government provides financial support for rescue vessels and operations. The unit also receives grants from community supporters and businesses.
3. Raffle Ticket Sales: Runs two raffles per year with prizes including boats and trailers valued at over $12,000. Funds help keep fleet on water and radio room open 24/7.
4. Radio Club Membership: Annual club subscription at $40. Provides members with unique radio call sign (HUNTER nnn), access to Marine Rescue NSW e-shop discounts, and enhanced safety awareness as auxiliary asset on water.
5. Training Courses: Provides General Boat Licence courses ($165 adults, $145 young persons 12-15), PWC Licence courses ($60 adults, $145 young persons), and SROCP Radio Licence training and exams for public.
6. Sponsorships: Relies on sponsors at various tiers (Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and community supporters to fund operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie provides free 24/7 volunteer-staffed search and rescue services, vessel log-on/log-off safety monitoring, weather and tidal information, radio checks, and Swansea Bridge bookings on Lake Macquarie and coastal waters out to 30 nautical miles. Operations are delivered from the Swansea Radio Base/SARCC and Pelican Boat Base using two Naiad RHIB rescue vessels and three Sea-Doo rescue water craft, supported by paid boat licence and marine radio training courses and a $40/year Radio Club membership.

Product overview

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie is a volunteer-run not-for-profit emergency services organization providing maritime rescue and safety services. The core offering is a 24/7 search and rescue operation combining a volunteer-staffed radio base and SARCC (Search and Rescue Coordination Centre) with a fleet of rescue vessels. The vessel fleet consists of two Naiad RHIB patrol boats (Lake Macquarie 30 and Lake Macquarie 31) and three Sea-Doo Rescue Water Craft jetskis, all equipped with advanced navigation and communication technology. The organization supplements its rescue operations with community programs including a Marine Rescue App for trip logging, a Radio Club membership with call signs and equipment discounts, and training courses for boat licences, PWC licences, and marine radio operator certifications. Additional services include Swansea Bridge bookings, weather forecasting widgets, and fundraising raffles. The unit serves Lake Macquarie and coastal waters extending 30 nautical miles offshore, operating under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Log-on/Log-off Monitoring Service 24/7 volunteer-staffed radio monitoring service covering Lake Macquarie and the immediate coastline out to 30 NM at sea. Provides distress response, weather reports, tidal information, radio checks, and bridge bookings. Integrated with the NSW Marine Rescue Network to track vessels along the entire NSW coast.
• Lake Macquarie 30 (LM30) Rescue Vessel A 10-metre Naiad RHIB rescue vessel purpose-built for Marine Rescue NSW by Yamba Welding and Engineering. Powered by twin Suzuki outboard motors and equipped with a full Raymarine navigation suite, FLIR forward-looking infrared camera, radar, sonar, and a dedicated crew station for the on-scene commander. Operates up to 30 NM offshore.
• Lake Macquarie 31 (LM31) Rescue Vessel An 8.5-metre Naiad RHIB rescue vessel purpose-built by Yamba Welding and Engineering, featuring an axe-head bow for heavy bar crossings. Powered by twin Suzuki 250HP outboard motors capable of 42 knots. Equipped with full Raymarine navigation suite, FLIR infrared camera, radar, and sonar. Deploys up to 30 nautical miles offshore.
• Rescue Water Craft (RWC) Fleet Three 3.4-metre Sea-Doo GTX 170 personal watercraft (jetskis) equipped with full safety and rescue equipment. Enable rapid response to incidents on the Lake and at the Swansea Heads bar, access shallow water, transport rescue sleds, and provide jumpstart packs to stranded vessels.
• Marine Rescue App Free mobile application for iOS and Android enabling boaters to log on/log off trips, receive alerts, and access safety information. Provides easy log-on/log-off service and integrates with the NSW Marine Rescue Network.
• Radio Club Membership Annual subscription club providing members with a unique Marine Rescue-issued HUNTER radio call sign, access to discounts on safety and boating equipment via the Marine Rescue NSW e-shop, and enhanced safety awareness as auxiliary assets on the water. Priced at $40 per year including GST.
• General Boat Licence Theory & Test 3 hour 15 minute knowledge course with a 50-question multiple-choice test covering NSW boating rules and safety, delivered at the Swansea Heads base. Includes morning/afternoon tea. Priced at $165 for adults (16+) and $145 for young persons (12-15).
• PWC Licence Theory and Test Focused 2-hour knowledge test course for personal watercraft (jetski) licence endorsement. Students must hold a current NSW general boat licence. Evening courses available at the Swansea Radio Base. Priced at $60 for adults (16+) and $145 for young persons (12-15).
• Radio Licence Training (SROCP) Marine Radio Short Range Operator's Certificate of Proficiency course required for VHF marine radio operation. Available as a 2-day workshop with exam or via private study. Covers VHF radio telephony, Digital Selective Calling (DSC), emergency procedures, and practical radio operations.
• Swansea Bridge Bookings Service Service for scheduling and coordinating Swansea Bridge openings for vessel passage through the lift bridge on the entrance to Lake Macquarie. Bookings taken via phone (02) 4972 7400 or VHF Channel 16. The unit handled 2,632 bridge bookings in 2025.
• Marine Rescue Raffle Twice-yearly fundraising raffle with prizes such as boats and trailers. The current grand prize is a QUINTREX 310 Dart plus aluminium alloy trailer in a package valued at over $12,000. Proceeds support rescue vessel fleet maintenance and volunteer operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 594 assists in 2025, with 1,201 persons on board assisted vessels
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Yamba Welding and EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationNSW-based manufacturer that built the 8.5-metre Naiad rescue vessel Lake Macquarie 31, purpose-built for Marine Rescue NSW.
• MAKMARINEmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplied the Quintrex 310 Dart boat and aluminium alloy trailer for the raffle grand prize valued at over $12,000. Located at 804 Pacific Hwy, Marks Point.
• Marine Rescue NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent not-for-profit organisation. Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water. Has capacity to track and monitor vessels across entire NSW coast.
• NSW Police Marine Area CommandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRescue vessels operate under direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command for search and rescue operations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Coastguard New Zealand: New Zealand's volunteer-led coastal search and rescue organisation. Comparable in volunteer-crewed rescue vessels, vessel monitoring, and boating education mandate but operating trans-Tasman in a different jurisdiction.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue (Queensland): Volunteer-based marine rescue organisation operating in Queensland, Australia. Similar volunteer-led rescue, vessel monitoring, and boating safety services but serving a different Australian state geography.
• Sea Rescue Squadron (Western Australia): Volunteer marine rescue unit operating off the Western Australian coast. Comparable in volunteer rescue operations and recreational boating safety mandate but in a different Australian state.

Direct peers

• NSW Police Marine Area Command: Government agency that directs search and rescue operations on NSW waters; Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie rescue vessels operate under its command. Closely coordinated peer sharing operational theatre, but professional rather than volunteer-based.
• Marine Rescue NSW: The parent not-for-profit network comprising 184 volunteer marine rescue units across NSW. Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie is one of these units, sharing identical mission, equipment standards (Naiad RHIBs, FLIR/Raymarine suites), training programs and governance. Most directly comparable peer as the umbrella organisation.
• Australian Volunteer Coast Guard: National volunteer-based coastal safety organisation providing marine search and rescue, vessel monitoring, and boating education across multiple Australian states. Directly comparable mission, volunteer-only operating model, and recreational boater customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Surf Life Saving Australia: National volunteer-based organisation focused on coastal water safety, beach rescue and education. Larger and broader in mandate (beach-focused) but shares the Australian volunteer lifesaving ethos and coastal community engagement model.
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): The UK's largest charity that saves lives at sea through volunteer crews, lifeboats, and beach lifeguards. Larger, more established and broader in geographic scope, but directly analogous volunteer-based maritime search and rescue operating model.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA): Federal agency responsible for maritime safety, search and rescue coordination, and vessel regulation across Australia. Operates at broader national scale and regulatory layer rather than volunteer direct-rescue, but an institutional peer in the maritime safety ecosystem.

Others

• NSW Boating Industry Association: Industry body representing boating businesses in NSW, with overlap in stakeholder ecosystem (boating safety training, vessel standards, recreational boating policy). Adjacent rather than direct peer — ecosystem participant rather than rescue operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@marinerescuelakemacquarie5069
• Facebookfacebook.com/marinerescue.lakemacquarie
• Instagraminstagram.com/marinerescuelakemac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marine-rescue-lake-macquarie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie