Update: Monday, 8:13AM 21 July 2025.
Marine Rescue NSW is deploying four vessels from four units this morning to assist in the multi-agency search for a missing 56-year-old fisherman on the South Coast.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said all crews would resume the search at 8:30am.
“Marine Rescue NSW volunteers and vessels will focus on two search areas under the direction of Marine Area Command.
“Batemans Bay 21 will search alongside a NSW Water Police vessel off Batemans Bay, while Narooma 30, Bermagui 30 and Merimbula 31 will search further south.
“All four Marine Rescue NSW vessels will continue searching today until instructed otherwise by Marine Area Command,” Inspector Massey said.
Update: Sunday, 10:27PM 20 July 2025.
Marine Rescue NSW vessels and volunteer crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are on standby to continue the multi-agency search for a missing 56-year-old fisherman on the state’s South Coast tomorrow (Monday 21 July).
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the search area and crew taskings will be confirmed by Marine Area Command in the morning.
“We are expecting to be on the water at 8:30am on Monday,” he said.
Six Marine Rescue NSW vessels searched waters today (Sunday 20 July). Inspector Massey said vessels and volunteers from Marine Rescue Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula recommenced the search at 8:30am.
“There were almost 30 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on the water across six vessels today, supported by our highly skilled radio operators at Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui.
“The Marine Rescue NSW vessels covered a significant area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 12 nautical miles (22km) seaward under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.
“Conditions were reasonably favourable offshore, and there were a lot of whales in the search area.
“Our crews were progressively stood down throughout the day, with Ulladulla 30 and Merimbula 31 the first, as we managed crew fatigue and fuel loads.
“Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 were the last of our vessels on the water – they were stood down for the day at 4:30pm.
“All of our dedicated volunteers are tired but ready to continue tomorrow. They are an incredible group of committed people,” he said.
Sunday, 9:22AM 20 July 2025.
Dozens of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers have resumed the multi-agency search for a missing 56-year-old fisherman on the state’s South Coast.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said vessels from the Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Tuross Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, and Merimbula units have all been deployed this morning to continue the search.
“The six Marine Rescue NSW vessels resumed the search at 8:30am (Sunday, 20 July).
“They are searching an area offshore from just north of Narooma to south of Bermagui under the direction of Marine Area Command and will continue to do so until otherwise instructed.
“Sea conditions are favourable this morning, with good visibility for our volunteer crews.
“Volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui are managing radio communications for today’s effort,” he said.
Inspector Massey said Marine Rescue NSW vessels Batemans Bay 30 and Bermagui 30 assisted the search last night (Saturday, 19 July).
“Volunteer crews and vessels were rapidly deployed just after 8pm. They searched offshore waters for more than four hours and were stood down for the night at 12:45am (Sunday, 20 July).
“The Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui crews said sea conditions were favourable last night, but it was quite dark with little assistance from the moon, and they had to navigate around numerous whales,” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
