Recently, Marine Rescue trialed loading a surf club IRB (inflatable rescue boat) on its 34ft lifeboat BG30 the training operation was the first of its kind in NSW.

With Marine Rescues ability to transport an IRB, surf club call-out teams are now able to get to places further, faster and safer.

Far South Coast director of lifesaving Cheryl McCarthy said two different training sessions with Bermagui Marine Rescue have discovered new possibilities.

The first training we stayed in close to figure it all out. The second, we took it down to a tricky bit of coastline where previous rescues have taken place at Bithry Inlet.

We worked with Tathras call-out team so they could see how to get their IRB on the back as well, Ms McCarthy said.

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The surf clubs rescue craft have the ability to conduct searches close to shore whereas Marine Rescues craft are equipped to travel further distances in less time.

Members of both surf clubs and Marine Rescue are excited about the possibilities this offers to work cooperatively over white and blue water.

Bermagui Marine Rescue unit commander Caron Parfitt said there are 35 members, and together with call-out team members from Bermagui and Tathra surf clubs they are able to practice the best operations for marine safety at the very active port of Bermagui.

It is a very active port and very popular with recreational boaters, Ms Parfitt said.

We have a 34ft lifeboat and are capable of going long distances, but is difficult close to shore thats where the surf clubs IRBs can be utilised.

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The collaboration also has potential benefits to extending search times, as SLSC power craft are not equipped for night searches.

When accessing remote parts of the coastline, it could be an hour flat out in an IRB to get somewhere between both Tathra and Bermagui clubs, Ms McCarthy said.

To know we could come back with Marine Rescue, we could search until that last possible minute instead of having to factor in our search times and cutting them short to return back before dark.

Ms McCarthy said it had been important for both organisations to gain familiarity with each other for smooth operations in the future.

We have really worked so well with each other, and it has been important to learn what each craft is capable of doing, she said.

The joint training has been led by Denise Page at Marine Rescue Bermagui and Euan McKenzie of Bermagui SLSC.

Ms McCarthy said the training has been ideal.

It is two great teams working so well together, there are so many more scenarios and neat training opportunities to look forward to in the future, she said.

We would love to see more surf clubs up and down the coast work more closely with Marine Rescue.