The Northern Territory Water Police Section remained busy over the Christmas holiday period with the section coordinating another marine search and rescue on Monday night, this time in the Bynoe Harbour region.

The Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra detected an unregistered distress beacon activation in the Bynoe Harbour area early Monday evening. NT Water Police were called out to coordinate search and rescue efforts.

Officer in Charge of the Water Police Section, Senior Sergeant Steve Martin said "Five young men from the Darwin and Palmerston areas became stranded in a small dinghy on the water in the South Eastern reaches of Bynoe Harbour at around 7:00 pm Monday night after their hired vessel suffered mechanical failure during a fishing trip".

"Thankfully the vessel was equipped with an EPIRB and Search and Rescue personnel were quickly able to establish their location.

"Staff from Crab Claw Island Resort were contacted and in heavy rain and near zero visibility, launched one of their vessels and went to the aid of the stranded party. They were able to establish basic communications with the stranded men by using light signals to home in on the disabled vessel.

"The weather was quite poor and the staff put in a tremendous effort to assist in the recovery of the party. They did a great job" he said.

The Water Police Section advise all mariners to take care and be safe when on the water, carry the right safety gear, and let people know where you are going and when you expect to be back. They also advise that all distress beacons should be registered in order to save valuable time should they be activated.


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