Lake Macquarie marine rescue trialling new DV Locator technology to help locate boats in distress

Marine Rescue is using exciting new technology authorities say will save precious time for rescuers by pinpointing the exact location of boats in distress.

It is the “game-changer” which could save countless lives on our waterways – simple technology which allows rescuers to save precious time by pinpointing the exact location of boats in trouble.

The DV Locator, which is the brainchild of software developer and Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie squad volunteer Matt Dorhauer, is now in use across the country’s largest coastal saltwater lake and parts of the Central Coast with plans to roll it out further.

DV is short for distressed vessel, with the technology allowing authorities to find boaters in trouble by accessing their phone coordinates.

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie volunteer Matt Dorhauer, the brainchild of the DV Locator.

It is as simple as water-lovers giving permission via a link in a text message from Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie’s radio volunteers to allow them to track their movements using the GPS on their smartphones.

It could be done as they enter the water or even after they get into trouble and call a mayday on the radio.

The technology is immediately relayed throughout the marine rescue’s network to iPads that are onboard the unit’s response vessels, showing crews where the vessel is with an accuracy of less than five metres.

The technology will be sent to iPads on board rescue boats and jet skis to allow crews to pinpoint the exact location of boats in distress. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Lake Macquarie marine rescue unit commander Malcolm Druce said there was no app to download and none of the information was retained by the organisation.

“We don’t want to breach anyone’s privacy, we just want to save people who may find themselves in trouble,’’ Mr Druce said.

“For us it is an absolute game-changer, particularly at night, offshore and for people who may not be familiar with the lake.

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie Unit commander Malcolm Druce

A file shot of Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie carrying out training exercises with the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter service. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

“It takes the guess work out of trying to find people in trouble. We can waste half an hour trying to pinpoint exactly where a vessel may be. But not with this.’’

The technology is not mandatory and all water users can decide whether they wish to give permission.

However, it has already proved its worth during rescues in the past few months and is now also being trialled on the Central Coast.

“The public doesn’t have to download an app or anything, they just click on a link and the technology does the rest,’’ Mr Druce said.