The objectives of the
Coastal Patrol include:
a) to encourage mariners and
other persons interested in seamanship and safety of life at sea as
volunteers for the benefit of the public.
(i) to assist the Patrol
in the attainment of its objects;
(ii) to assist public
authorities entrusted or connected with the administration or regulation
of maritime affairs; and
(iii) to undertake as
students and as teachers courses of training in seamanship, radio
operation and matters pertaining thereto;
b) to assist or cooperate with any authority concerned or entrusted with the defence of Australia;
c) to bring together
mariners and all persons interested in small ships so that they might
acquire a better understanding of small ships;
d) by precept and example to
train and educate mariners so that waterways may be made safer for those who
navigate upon them in small ships;
e) to carry out either at
the request or the direction of any authority concerned or otherwise
maritime rescue work and to train personnel for such work;
f) to carry out any rescue
work or other service of a public or community nature; and
g) to do all such other
lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above
objects or any of them.
Resources required for
Coastal Patrol Operations
To Implement the roles
listed above Coastal Patrol Divisions must have, or have access to, the
following resources:
a) Marine Radio Bases,
properly equipped, that maintain a listening watch on maritime frequencies
as required under their ACA licence for Marine Rescue Stations, Limited
Coast Stations. In NSW they must also have annual accreditation from State
Rescue Board.
b) Licensed Marine Radio
Operators with appropriate Coastal Patrol training.
c) Rescue Lifeboats,
Uses of the Rescue Lifeboats
Lifeboats are required for:
• Rescue crew training
• Search and Rescue operations
• Public education course practical training
• Surveillance units for Marine Watch
• Crowd control/safety vessels at special events
• Joint operations/training with other emergency services
• General duty water ambulance service - task specific vessels and crews
Interagency Liaisons
Implementation of the
Coastal Patrol roles requires that both National Office and Divisions of the
Patrol liaise closely with:
• State Police, especially
the Water Police, in providing marine search and rescue services, for which
the Patrol’s chain of Marine Rescue Radio Bases are a vitally important
element
• The State Government authority responsible for the administration of ports
and waterways;
• State Ambulance authorities in maintaining Patrol Water Ambulance
Lifeboats where deemed appropriate,
• State Headquarters of the Royal Australian Navy in each State in
connection with the Patrol’s Naval Support roles
• State Fire and Rural Fire Authorities, both for implementation of fire
fighting facilities
National Headquarters
liaises with Naval Support Command Headquarters and with many other Federal
and State Authorities.
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