Marine Rescue Queensland, Bundaberg

08/11/2026

Mast down, sails in water and fouled prop

At 14:35 yesterday our radio room advised a call from a vessel attending a disabled yacht of Bargara. The yacht’s mast had come down, sails were in the water, and lines had fouled the propellor. The attending vessel could not do a tow as its engine was in limp mode. Our Duty Skipper made contact with the yacht’s skipper who requested a tow to the Burnett River.

There was already had a crew at Base completing engineering training, so Bundy Rum our 5.5m inshore vessel was activated. The Duty Skipper arrived at Base at 15:00 to see Bundy Rum’s canopy bobbing significantly in the chop near the lightouse. After a welfare check Bundy Rum was recalled in the unsuitable conditions and a crew called for Bundy Rescue 3 as Bundy Rescue 2 could not launch due to the low tide.

Bundy Rescue 3 arrived at the disabled vessel at 16:00 some 1,200 m offshore Bargara for the tow back to the river at 4 knots in a sloppy moderate sea. The vessel was safely at anchor by 18:00.

The crew departed Base at 19:00 for washdown and refueling on Sunday.

We were fortunate that the afternoon thunderstorm only gave rain with reduced visibility but with very spectacular lightening inland.

Photos and video: Arrival, Setting the tow video, Short tow in the river, Safely at anchor, Track for the activation.

02/11/2026

Cruise Ship medivac

At 17:10 yesterday Marine Rescue Bundaberg was activated by Water Police to be a safety vessel for a medivac from a cruise ship, at that time proceeding south abeam Sandy Cape. A seriously ill passenger was to be evacuated by rescue helicopter 511 from the Sunshine Coast. The distance offshore and nighttime operations indicated need for a safety vessel.

Bundy Rescue 2 launched at 17:50 with a crew of 6 to head towards Sandy Cape. At 21:00 Bundy Rescue 2 was advised to stand down as the medivac had been effected after the helo returned from a mainland refueling sortie. At that time Bundy Rescue 2 was 14nm from the North Cardinal off Break Sea Spit.

Bundy Rescue 2 was back at Base by 23:25 and moored on the pontoon for refueling and wash down on Monday.

It was an almost 6.5 hour operation in moderate seas over 67nm using 388 litres of fuel at an average speed of 15 knots.

Photos: Bundy Rescue 2 track; Navnet screen with track, radar and FLIR

01/11/2026

Quad S at MRQ Bundaberg

That is SSSS or Shipboard Safety Skill Set, a mandatory training and certification package for survival at sea for all volunteers aspiring to be boat crew. Recently two new volunteers undertook the training along with several old hands for a refresher.

The in-water survival training in the pool included righting and boarding a life raft and followed by in-raft drills. After that there was a 50m swim, a conga line swim and the keeping warm huddle.

Back at Base after a welcome sausage sizzle brunch a simulated firefighting exercise involved applying extinguishers to a hydrocarbon fire followed by starting and using the on-board fire pump.

Daytime smoke and nighttime red flares were also deployed.

Thanks to Bundaberg Regional Council for access to the pool and Parso for the cook up.

Photos and videos: Boarding the life raft video, All aboard, The conga swim video, Keeping warm, Smoke flare video, Red flare, The fire box, Fire is out video.

27/10/2026

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE REFUNDS FUNDRAISER

Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg have been participating in the container refund scheme known as "Containers for Change" since inception.

Now that we have transitioned to Marine Rescue Queenland, Bundaberg we have a new account number and name.

Under the scheme, eligible containers can be returned to a container refund point for a 10c refund. For a list of Qld collection points click on the link below.

At refund points there is an option to direct your refund to any organisation including Marine Rescue Queenland, Bundaberg.

Our container scheme ID is C11804615. Your donations will help us to continue our vital work of "Saving Lives at Sea"

Please help our volunteers by removing eligible containers from your kerbside recycling, taking them to a refund point and donating your refund to Marine Rescue Queenland, Bundaberg.

And a big thank you to all those that have donated to us over the years. We hope you continue to do so.

For more information go to
www.containersforchange.com.au See less

Every container counts towards improving our communities and the environment   Choose your location to get started Queensland Western Australia Containers for Change recycling schemes currently operate in Queensland and Western Australia.        

12/10/2026

The Brian Prince Emergency Services Awards were held last Saturday night.

Marine Rescue Queensland, Bundaberg's nomination was Rod Studholme for outstanding leadership and governance of Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland- Bundaberg and Marine Rescue Queensland – Bundaberg.

Prior to joining Volunteer Marine Rescue, Rod had been a volunteer member of Marine Rescue NSW for several years achieving his Rescue Boat watch keeper rating.

Rod joined Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg in Jul 2017 as a rescue vessel crew member before being elected to the Squadron Management Committee and subsequently Squadron President, a position he continues to hold during transition and the winding up of that organisation..

Following a review of Queensland’s Marine Rescue Services, the need for a single state wide rescue service was approved and Marine Rescue Queensland was formed by the government. Rod, as the President of Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg, was instrumental in ensuring the Bundaberg Squadron was ready to make the transition and subsequently leading the Squadron through the transition process to MRQ.

Whilst the process was particularly challenging due to the significant increase in governance procedures, Rod managed both Squadron and MRQ expectations whilst ensuring a strong membership support base and maintaining operational capability, and meeting community expectations including the annual Family Fishing Classic.

In addition to carrying out the duties of President of Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg for several years leading up to transition, Rod continued to be an active rescue vessel crew member and on call to respond to emergencies at sea. Rod has also attained the rating of Coxswain.

Rod also represented Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg and the wider VMR community as a member of the VMRQ Central Zone board, advising and supporting the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland (VMRAQ as) a State Councilor.

Volunteering not only requires a commitment to serving the community but it requires members to contribute time and energy. In this regard, Rod in his various roles, but especially as the Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg President and MRQ – B Unit Commander, has contributed thousands of hours to meeting his responsibilities. He has ensured that governance requirements have been met and operational capability has not only been retained but has increased.

In Nov last year MRQ – Bundaberg took delivery of a new offshore rescue vessel to augment existing operations, training, and has increased search and rescue capability for the Bundaberg community. Rod as the President of Volunteer Marine Rescue along with the Squadron members, was instrumental in ensuring the funding, design, procurement and delivery of the new vessel was undertaken in accordance with regulations and within budget. The new vessel project represents a significant increase on operational capability and delivery of marine search and rescue services in Bundaberg region.

Congratulations to all the nominees from the various emergency Services. And thanks to the Brian Prince family and Bundaberg Central Rotary Club

10/10/2026

Community spirit at its best

Last Friday MRQ Bundaberg received a generous donation from the Principals of The Agency.

The Agency is a local Real Estate company with an innovative policy of giving back the community through $1,000 donations to nominated charities. The donations are generated by diverting funds from sales commissions to charities nominated by the sale vendor.

MRQ Bundaberg was very fortunate to be such a nominee. The $1,000 donation will be applied to installing and operating a STARLINK Mini communications link on Bundy Rescue 2. This will dramatically improve capacity to receive and send search and recue data from across our operating area which includes several black spots for mobile phone access to the internet.

Thank you to our nominees and The Agency.

Photos: Unit Operations Coordinator Erwin with The Agency guys; Happy volunteers; Erwin explains Bundy Rescue 2.

04/10/2026

Assisting a disabled yacht to the marina

On Thursday afternoon our radio operator took a call from a 14m yacht with 2 POB travelling from 1770 and indicating need for assistance to berth at the Bundaberg Port Marina as the engine had failed. Our Duty Skipper ascertained they could safely sail overnight to the mouth of the river.

On Friday morning Bundy Rescue 2 rendezvoused with the vessel about 4.5nm NE of the river mouth at 08:44 in calm conditions and awaited the lowering of sails. The vessel was safely delivered to the marina where marina staff manouvered it into a berth. The 7nm trip was completed in 3 hours.

Photos: Arrival and sails down; Bridle on board; Video of tow underway; Rafted; Vessel at the marina.

04/10/2026

Our new pontoon

Last week MRQ Bundaberg received an upgrade to the main docking pontoon which dated from 1990.

The new pontoon was provided by MRQ and installed by Bellingham marine, the contractors for installation of piles and berths for the Gateway Marina.

The new pontoon is a major safety upgrade as the extra length allows our crews to disembark directly onto the pontoon through the marlin door, rather than clambering on the gunnel to step down onto a box before landing on the pontoon.

Photos: The original pontoon; Away with the old walkway; new pontoon lifted in; New pontoon before balancing; New pontoon with temporary counterweights; Bundy Rescue 2 berthed at the new pontoon.

21/09/2026

A started out as a short one, but……

At about 10am Saturday Bundy Rescue’s 2 and 3 were out training off Mon Repos Beach when a request for assistance was received by our Radio Room from an 11m Flybridge Cruiser engine problems and one person on board. The Radio Room message said 21nm NE of Burnett Heads. This agreed with coordinates given on the plotter.

The activation crew of Skipper Erwin and crew of Glenn, John M, Steph, David and Wal was assembled from both vessels and were able to travel out at 25knots in good conditions with the only hazards being whales and the occasional dolphin. On arrival at the given waypoint there was no sign of the vessel. Updated contact had him between Lady Musgrave Island and Lady Elliot Island, as further 22 nm out. They arrived at the vessel at 12.30 and 10 minutes later commenced the journey back to Burnett Heads at a speed of 8 knots.

Bundy Rescue 2 arrived in the Burnett River just as the sun was setting and had the cruiser alongside the berth at the Bundaberg Port Marina at about 6.40pm. Thanks to the two persons who assisted by taking lines on the berth. Thanks also to our radio operators Leonie and Elaine who stayed back after her shift to maintain a listening watch for us.

Then it was back to base to refuel and wash down the vessel. After the round trip of 85nm 9 hours and 606L of fuel it was time to go home for some lunch and dinner.
Photos: Saturday’s track from M on Repos; Cruiser on tow

06/09/2026

After the quiet

After 9 weeks with no activations MRQ Bundaberg was activated on three consecutive days last week. Two of the activations were whoppers.

Wednesday - At 10:50 Bundy Rescue 2 was activated to a disabled 6m Haines Hunter 1.5 nm SE of the Fish Attracting Devices which are 9.5nm NE of Burnett Heads. The vessel was safely returned to Burnett Heads Harbour by 14:00.

Thursday – At 10:00 Bundy Rescue 2 departed for Lady Musgrave Island assist a 12.2m flybridge cruiser with propellors damaged by interaction with a bommy in the lagoon. About 33nm into the trip the Radio Room advised phoned information about a 6.5m runabout with 3 POB broken down about 8nm SE of Lady Elliot Island. The information was received via an SMS from another vessel to family members as vessel had no communications. Bundy Rescue 2’s skipper triaged the activations to decide the runabout was the priority as the Lady Musgrave vessel was safely at anchor in the lagoon. It was a 25nm divert to the runabout where water in fuel was thought to be the problem. The vessel was towed back to Burnett Heads after an 8.75 hour and 124nm run that used 667L of fuel. (Photos of rafted vessel and back at Burnett Heads)

Friday – A crew assembled at base at 06:30 for a 07:00 departure for the Lady Musgrave activation. A calm to moderate sea allowed a speed of 20 knots which was increased to 23 knots by tucking in behind Reef Empress also bound the island. After a chat with skipper of the disabled vessel a short tow was attached for exiting the lagoon. Once outside speed for the trip home varied between 6 and 8 knots. The vessel was placed in a rafted tow for berthing at the Bundaberg port Marina. Bundy Rescue 2 was refueled with 870L and washed down after the 107nm activation. The crew departed Base at 19:30 after 13 hours on the job.

Photos: Tracks for Wednesday; Tracks for Thursday; Thursday vessel rafted; Thursday safely back at Burnett Heads; Shadowing Reef Empress; Arrival chat at LMI cruiser; Paying out the tow line; Clear of the isolated danger mark; Safely back at the marina;.