Logging On with Marine Rescue: Why It Matters and How to Do It
There is an emphasis on Logging On to Marine rescue Geraldton Log for recreational boaties. Why?
Why would the average recreational boat operator want to log on to Marine Rescue Geraldton, giving out their intentions for the day, where they will be heading, and the specifications of their boat. Why do that?
I suppose we have to also ask Why Not log On. Why not let a group whose sole purpose is to make sure that all recreational Boaties return home to their love ones at the end of a day on the water.
I guess the first question I will ask all vessel skippers is “Do you intend to encounter a time or event that will put you, your vessel, your crew and possibly your family in grave danger of not returning home tonight.” I have never met a skipper yet that leaves the jetty intending to breakdown, hit an underwater object, sink their vessel. But records show that it happens thousands of times per year in Western Australia.
If we take our family out for a drive in our car through the district, and something happens we can always get out of the car and stay safe. We may have to wait a while for someone to come past to assist but it will happen.
On the water it is somewhat different. We do not have roads for us to follow, so we can each take a different path, thus reducing the chances that another vessel will find us. Once we get into trouble out in the ocean we are generally left to fend for ourselves.
Yet there is a simple solution. Log on with you local Marine Rescue Group and if you have not returned to your designated place by 30 minutes past the time you have suggested, we will come looking for you, at our expense. Yep you don’t even have to pay a membership fee to have Boatside Assistance. How good is that.
“But logging on is such a pain. When we log on the local group want us to give all sorts of information and I don’t know how anyway. Nope its to hard I will take my chance out there.”
What information do you need to give the local Marine Rescue Group. You need:
A callsign – This can be the name of the vessel, the Registration Number (preferred callsign), the club membership name and number, or any other information that identifies your vessel.
We want to know where you departed from.
We want to know how may people are on board. Its not our job to determine if you can carry that many people or not. The number does assist us in the event of a search for missing people.
We like to know how much fuel you have on board at departure.
We like to have an area that you are going to be in. This will assist if we do not hear from you at the time you designate to return. It gives us a starting place for a search.
We ask for an estimated time of return. If you have not returned within 30 minutes of this time we will begin a Search and Rescue event to find you.
That’s not a lot to ask is it?
Now how do you do that?
There are two ways you can log on to the Marine Rescue Geraldton log.
The main method of Logging On is still the VHF Radio. This will always be available and can be done anytime, before, during and leaving the marinas. See below how to Log on by Radio.
In 2026 we began accepting log on’s using the DECKEE App, available on all smart phones, both Android and Apple. The DECKEE App has been produced by Dept of Transport and DFES and Marine Rescue have joined with them to allow a Log On/Log Off system to work with the Maine Rescue Groups.
This is a great initiative and allows you to log on from the comfort of your home, or from the vessel as you leave the Marina. We don’t really care when you Log On we are only concerned with when you are returning. Using the DECKEE App needs you to create an account with your vessel details, contact details and normal places of Launching and returning too. Once you have entered all the details into Deckee it is there until you alter it. One Feature of using the DECKEE App is that you are not required to enter a departure time. This means you can log on any time, even the night before. It is not important to us, the important time is the LOG OFF time. If you are not back at that time or Logged Off at that time, actions commence to begin a search.
How To Log on by Radio.
The best way to make the Log On process easy is to first, have a listen out for 10 secs on the channel you are intending to use, and make sure no one else is in the middle of a conversation, and then make contact with Marine Rescue Geraldton Radio Operator by making a Standard Call.
This is made up of Who you are calling repeated 3 times and then your callsign 3 times and then a statement to say what channel you are calling on and the proword “Över”. Then release the Press to talk button.
So the call would be
“Marine Rescue Geraldton, Marine Rescue Geraldton, Marine Rescue Geraldton this is Alpha Delta 241, AD241, AD241 on channel 82 Over.”
Simple hey??
Marine Rescue Geraldton will respond on the Channel you called on,
“AD241, AD241 this is Marine Rescue Geraldton, Marine Rescue Geraldton, Go Ahead over”
You then can revert to a single callsign as communications has been established.
“This is AD241 I would like to Log On please, Registration AD241, 200 litres of fuel, 4 persons on board, including 2 children under 14, proceeding to Drummonds Cove to anchor for a swim. We are Departing from Batavia Marina, estimated time of return 2pm over.”
Marine Rescue Geraldton will respond by reading back the information
“This is Marine Rescue Geraldton, Thank You, I have, Registration AD241, 200 litres of fuel, 4 persons on board, including 2 children under 14, proceeding to Drummonds Cove to anchor for a swim. We are Departing from Batavia Marina, estimated time of Return 2pm over.”
And you can reply “This is AD241, that is correct, over.”
And Marine Rescue Geraldton will respond
“This is Marine Rescue Geraldton roger, Have a good day (optional), This is Marine Rescue Geraldton standing by out”
When you return to the Batavia Marina you then call Marine Rescue Geraldton and as to be taken off the log.
“Marine Rescue Geraldton this is AD241, channel 82 over.”
“This is Marine Rescue Geraldton go ahead over.”
“This is AD241 I am back in the marina, can you take me off the log please over.”
“This is Marine Rescue Geraldton Roger I have you logging off at 1.40pm over.”
“This is AD241 that is correct out.”
If you don’t do it word for word as above don’t worry we wont score you on it. If you forget any portion the radio operator is trained to ensure they have all the information required on the log. You may be asked for a contact phone number, either ashore or on the vessel, trailer registration, and other things.
This is all information that we have over time needed in various situations, such as if you are going to the islands for a couple of days, going down to Jurien Bay for a week, and many other scenarios.