They’re the first port of call for fishermen and recreational sailors stranded in Port Phillip Bay.
Now, the Werribee Coast Guard is putting its own call-out for interested volunteers to do their bit during the busy summer period.
The Werribee unit – known as VF10 or Victorian Flotilla 10 – provides marine search and rescue services to a large section of Port Phillip Bay, including Point Cook, Williamstown, Point Wilson, Portarlington and St Leonards, although they can be called further afield.
Flotilla commander Bruce Lawrence said the coast guard, which is volunteer-run and provides support to Water Police, has already experienced an increase in call-outs due to the warmer weather, including back-to-back call-outs in Altona recently where one family’s boat had broken down and the battery on another boat had gone flat. The coast guard towed both boats back to the pier.
“We’re in the busy season, there’s a lot of boats out at the moment, there can be 500 boats out on a good day at Werribee, Portarlington, Altona.”
The coast guard, which has about 30 members, hope to boost its numbers to 50 over summer.
Mr Lawrence said the coast guard would soon begin a seamanship course for new members. He said new volunteers must be prepared to, at minimum, give up one Saturday or Sunday each month, and take part in three Monday night training sessions each month.
He also called on boat owners to check their boats and safety equipment before going out on the water.
The Werribee Coast Guard is looking for more sponsorships and more members. For more information, email fao.vf10@coastguard.com.au
