Boat owners are being urged to update their details with Marine Rescue Port Macquarie.
Marine Rescue has, for the last eighteen years, operated the PM Club.
This is a system where boat owners register their vessels and personal details with Marine Rescue and are given a PM Number.
Then, when they venture to sea, they log on with the base giving their PM Number, their destination, number of persons on board and their estimated time of return.
There are presently more than 380 members of the club in the Port Macquarie district.
Marine Rescue spokesperson Geoff Shelton said, “The PM Club has been fantastic over the years because if a vessel gets into difficulties or worse, goes missing, we have all the details including a photo of the boat,” he said.
“This helps us considerably during any Search and Rescue Operation and has in fact saved lives in the past.”
The problem Marine Rescue now faces is that some of the members’ details are out of date. “It is of absolute importance that the information kept on file is accurate, especially details of trailer and car registrations,” Mr Shelton said.
“If a vessel becomes overdue, procedures are put in place which includes, among other things, going to the boat ramps to see if the car and trailer are still there, thus eliminating the possibility that an owner has just forgotten to sign off after coming back in over the bar.This single exercise can save a lot of time effort.”
So, to ensure members’ details are correct, Marine Rescue has sent out to all PM members a request asking them to up-date their details.
They will receive a new PM form to be filled out and returned to Marine Rescue so details can be updated. Members should receive their form in the next couple of days.
Any member who doesn’t receive their form or for any boaties who wish to join the PM Group, please contact the Marine Rescue Radio base on 6584 1966 or pop in during business hours.
The base is located above the Town Beach Kiosk.
