Marine Rescue Queensland
Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) is Queensland’s first state-wide volunteer marine rescue service, dedicated to saving lives at sea and supporting those on or near the water.
The service was formed in 2024 as part of reforms to the State’s disaster and emergency services, bringing together units from the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA) and Volunteer Marine Rescue Queensland (VMRQ), who have been keeping people safe on Queensland’s oceans and waterways for more than 50 years.
The combined marine rescue operations allow improved support at local and regional levels, with better access to replacement vessels under a single marine rescue service and safety network.
MRQ operates as part of the Queensland Police Service, who are responsible for disaster and emergency service response, and has a presence from the Torres Strait down to the Qld / NSW border.
MRQ delivers a range of functions:
- marine search and rescue operations
- marine assistance to persons or vessels in difficulty
- education and promotion about the work of MRQ and maritime safety topics to the boating public and community
- support for emergency service activities to help communities respond to, and recover from, an event or disaster
- support for other marine entities where available.
The service works with dedicated volunteers around the state to deliver world class emergency and disaster management response to those who need assistance on the water.