MARINE Rescue teams on the Mid North Coast experienced their busiest January on record, according to figures released earlier this week.

There were 61 search and rescue missions, including 28 emergency responses, across the nine units stretching from Woolgoolga to Lord Howe Island and Forster-Tuncurry.

A total of 145 people were safely returned to shore.

Of the units with the highest demand, Camden Haven, Coffs Harbour and Crowdy Harrington each carried out three search and rescues, Port Macquarie had ten while the Forster Tuncurry unit recorded 20 – one more than the other units combined.

The number of rescues was down in the service’s other five regions, including the Hunter Central Coast, Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.

This meant that even combined with the Mid North Coast figures, the statewide total of January rescues was the lowest in five years.

After a hectic December, Marine Rescue Commander Alex Barrell said boaters are clearly getting the message to “prep now and boat later”.

“They are making sure their vessel and safety equipment are in good working order.”

This includes carrying enough clean fuel, monitoring the weather and water conditions and logging on to Marine Rescue NSW via its free app or VHF Channel 16.

There were 9000 logged on vessels in January, which saw the service’s radio operators keep watch over 35,083 people.

They also managed 25,973 radio calls from across the state.