Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) organisations contribute significantly to
the safety of people who use the marine environment for recreation, sport,
tourism and industry pursuits.
In general terms, the marine environment can be classified as either blue water or white water, with organisations such as Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland Inc and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association Inc operating in the offshore and estuarine blue water and Surf Life Saving Queensland Inc and the Queensland branch of the Royal Life Saving Society Australia operating in the inshore white water (surf) or still water environments.
The Queensland Coastline is now covered by Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations
from the border with New South Wales, to Mornington Island in the Gulf of
Carpentaria.
At present there are 46 Blue Water and 59 White Water organisations involving
in excess of 28,000 active members.
Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations are recognised as an integral part of the Australian National Search and Rescue Plan, as they provide an efficient, well-trained, and professional service for the boating community in Queensland.
In the event of a Search and Rescue incident, Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations are activated by the Search and Rescue authority to provide support as necessary, to affect the successful search for, and rescue of, those in distress.
The relationship, which has developed over the years between the Queensland Government and the recognised Volunteer Marine Rescue organisations, has resulted in a substantially improved level of training and operation.
Other languages