If you need help from VMR Bribie, contact us NOW. Don't wait until it is dark and stormy! An early call is the safest call.
If possible, have your GPS position ready to tell us when you call - this will make our response time faster.
If your life is in immediate danger, you can also call 000, call a Mayday on your radio, and set off your EPIRB
Information about our Emergency Assistance
VMR Bribie Island provides a full rescue service to mariners who experience vessel breakdowns or require assistance due to grounding, medical or other emergencies. It is far easier and quicker for us to locate you and provide assistance when you have logged on with us so we encourage all mariners to do so before commencing their voyage.
Should you require our assistance then it is vital that you contact VMR Bribie Island as soon as possible while ensuring that you and your passengers remain calm. Please don't wait until it is getting dark, or until you are really worried. An early call is the best call!
Our Radio Operators and vessel skippers are experienced and will assess the situation then advise you of the steps to be taken while activating the appropriate response team to attend to you.
For vessels that have broken down, and are unable to be restarted, we will offer a tow to the nearest appropriate safe harbour. If circumstances allow then we will attempt to tow you to your departure point however this can’t be guaranteed.
If you are aground, we will assess whether it is safe to try to refloat you immediately. Often on a falling tide this will not be possible. We will not put either the VMR vessel or your vessel at risk. If it is not safe, you may have to wait until a higher tide to float off, but we will assist you to be safe in the meantime!
For all other sorts of assistance, the vessel skipper will work with you to do our utmost to help you.
Our priority is at all times the safety of lives at sea, including our own. Recovery of property is secondary however we will always act with common sense and compassion.
Please note that we are not permitted by law to undertake salvage work. For example if you are a large vessel stuck fast on the sand, with nobody on board, we may advise you that refloating the vessel is salvage work and we are not able to safely undertake the work.
We are also not generally permitted to tow vessels from one safe anchorage to another. For example we can not tow a vessel that is safely moored in Pumicestone Passage to a maintenance facility on the other side of the bay.
We are not permitted to tow unseaworthy, uninsured or unregistered vessels, other than where there is life at risk. In this case, we will ensure that the people on board are safe, but we may have to decline to tow an unsafe vessel.
You may contact us on VHF channel 73, 27MHz channel 90 or by phone direct to the radio room on 3408 7596. If you are unable to contact us on VHF channel 73 or 27MHz channel 90 we also monitor VHF channels 16, 21, 63, 67 and 81 as well as 27MHz channels 86 and 88.