Victoria receives new marine radio for emergencies

Marine radio will be switched on in Victoria to increase safety for watercraft users.

The emergency radio monitoring service covers the whole of the Victorian coastline and will be turned on for the very first time.

The new service supports marine search and rescue operations by allowing emergency personnel to be dispatched with the assistance of Victoria Police.

Boaters in Victorian coastal waters will receive both local monitoring and recording of radio traffic on both VHF and HF emergency radio channels.

Coast Radio Melbourne had previously only covered Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, leaving distress call monitoring to volunteers along the rest of Victorian coastal waters.

“The service will give Victorians outside of Port Phillip and Western a new lifeline if they’re in trouble on the water,” said Minister for Ports Luke Donnellan.

Image credit: ©FreeImages.com/Gavin Terpstra

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