WHAT IS IT THAT COAST GUARD DOES

Innisfail Coast Guard is staffed entirely by volunteers who contribute some 16000 unpaid hours of service annually to the cause. It provides a 24 hour, 365 days a year service to assist both private craft and professional fishermen when they, for any number of reasons, require assistance.

Innisfail Coast Guard, which operates out of Mourilyan Harbour, is the only point with an all tidal access to the Great Barrier Reef 24 hours a day for the area south of Cairns to Cardwell. It is thus able to respond to calls for assistance when the others may be tide bound.

Innisfail Coast Guard operates within an area extending from High Island in the North to South of Clump Point and then extending to the "inner" outer Reef an area of approximately 2000 square miles. Times will arise when the vessel may be required to venture out of this area to provide assistance when none other is available.

Training of crews is an important feature of the Flotilla's work and certain qualifications are required of the crews not least being a qualified Master/ Skipper.

Over the last 5 years, this Flotilla has rescued some 700 persons in over 230 boats and spent 1000 man hours performing search and rescue duties. In addition another 1000 hours are directed to boat training in order to further the effectiveness and skills of the boat crews.

Since its inception in 1973 the Flotilla has answered every call for assistance and has always completed what was required of it.