Surf Life Saving NSW has taken delivery of 67 rescue jet skis as part of a major expansion of the state’s coastal emergency response capability.
The new Rescue Water Craft will be deployed across the NSW coastline ahead of the coming summer patrol season, giving volunteer lifesavers greater capacity to respond to emergencies at patrolled beaches, remote coastal locations and known drowning blackspots.
The fleet has been delivered through the NSW Government’s four-year, $23 million investment in Surf Life Saving NSW.
New equipment delivered across the coastline
The latest jet skis have been allocated to locations stretching from the North Coast to the Illawarra.
Communities included in the most recent stage of the rollout include:
- Byron Bay
- Ballina
- Evans Head
- Clarence
- Woolgoolga
- Coffs Harbour
- Redhead
- Catherine Hill Bay
- Terrigal
- Avoca
- Copacabana
- Malabar
- Shellharbour
The announcement confirms the equipment has been delivered, although individual units may still require local commissioning, operator preparation and deployment before beginning routine patrol and emergency-response duties.
Surf Life Saving NSW’s jet skis are used for rapid surveillance, search and rescue operations and incidents occurring beyond traditional flagged swimming areas.
Upgraded tracking and safety technology
The new fleet is equipped with live-feed tracking technology, allowing Surf Life Saving NSW’s emergency coordination teams to monitor the location and movement of rescue craft during operations.
The jet skis also carry Personal Locator Beacons, which can help locate rescuers or activate an emergency alert if an operator encounters difficulties.
Operators receiving the new equipment will be provided with additional personal protective equipment, including:
- Personal flotation devices
- Helmets
- Trauma kits
- Full-length wetsuits
Surf Life Saving NSW says the upgraded technology should improve response times while reducing risks faced by volunteers operating in dangerous surf and weather conditions.
Almost 1,000 rescues in three seasons
Rescue jet skis have been involved in almost 1,000 rescues along the NSW coastline during the past three patrol seasons.
Nearly 300 of those rescues were carried out during the 2025–26 season.
The figures demonstrate the growing role of Rescue Water Craft in emergencies occurring outside patrolled areas and in situations where conventional rescue equipment may be slower or more difficult to deploy.
Surf Life Saving NSW’s previous annual report recorded 260 jet ski rescues during the 2024–25 season, when 593 qualified operators travelled more than 15,700 kilometres on rescue craft.
Jet skis are particularly valuable in searches, offshore incidents, rip-current rescues and emergencies around rock platforms or isolated beaches.
Emergency beacon network also expanded
The jet ski rollout forms part of a wider network of coastal safety technology that includes drones and Emergency Response Beacons.
The NSW Government says it has funded 64 new beacons at known coastal blackspots, bringing the total number installed and operating across the state to 68.
Emergency Response Beacons connect people directly with the Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre.
When activated, they allow emergency teams to identify the caller’s location and coordinate the deployment of lifesavers, lifeguards and other emergency services.
The units are particularly important at isolated or unpatrolled locations where mobile reception may be unreliable and no lifesavers are stationed nearby.
Surf Life Saving NSW reported that 58 beacons were operational by the end of the 2024–25 season. Those devices recorded 413 activations during the year, including 74 emergency activations.
The latest government announcement indicates a further ten units have since been added to the operational network.
Part of a broader $23 million investment
The $23 million funding package was first announced in 2023 and is being delivered over four years.
Of the total, $18 million was allocated through the NSW Rescue Capability Grant to strengthen frontline resources, including the procurement and management of the 67 rescue watercraft.
A further $5 million was allocated to the Surf Club Facility Program to support the upgrade, restoration and construction of surf lifesaving facilities.
The package therefore extends beyond the jet ski fleet and also supports equipment, emergency infrastructure and the physical bases from which volunteer lifesavers operate.
Year-round emergency response
While traditional beach patrols are concentrated around the warmer months, Surf Life Saving NSW maintains emergency-response capability throughout the year.
Jet skis, drones, duty officers and local surf club emergency call-out teams can be activated for incidents outside normal patrol hours and away from flagged swimming areas.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce described jet skis as a central part of the organisation’s rescue capability, particularly in searches and emergencies beyond patrolled beaches.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the expanded fleet would improve protection for coastal communities and visitors while making rescue operations safer for volunteers.
The equipment rollout represents a substantial increase in the number and geographic reach of Surf Life Saving NSW’s rescue assets.
However, the description of it as the state’s “strongest rescue capability in history” is a government characterisation rather than an independently measured performance finding.
The practical impact will depend on where the craft are stationed, the availability of trained operators and how quickly they can be deployed when emergencies occur.
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