Maritime Emergency Response Cadets (MERC)

The object of the Maritime Emergency Response Cadet (MERC) division of the Sea Rovers Association is to:

· Provide a means whereby the skills and interests of young people with a high spirit of adventure and achievement may be developed to their fullest potential;

· Establish a corps of suitably trained young people from which Volunteer Marine Rescue Organisations may attract recruits.

Entry requirements

To become a MERC aspirants must:

· Be aged between 14 and 18 years

· Be physically fit

· Be a good swimmer

· Hold a current speedboat licence

· Hold a MROCP

· Hold a current First Aid certificate

Note that other Sea Rover Association programmes provide training to satisfy the above entry requirements.

Training

Training will be to the highest possible standard in:

· Communications

· Environmental Protection

· Fire fighting

· First aid

· Flood rescue

· Marine Mammal stranding rescue

· Mass evacuation / rescue

· Navigation

· River rescue

· Salvage

· Sea rescue

· Seamanship

· Search and rescue

· Surf rescue

· Survival

It is envisaged that a cadet on completion of all training should be capable of performing, to the highest standard, any duty required of them should they join a Marine Rescue Group.

Training and operations are conducted from Sea Rover House from 0800 to 1600 on Sundays in conjunction with the Sea Rover 'Kraken' flotilla which caters for the 13 to 18 year olds. After settling in and 'learning the ropes' by participating in the activities of a flotilla those interested will be encouraged to satisfy the entry requirements for the Maritime Emergency Response Cadets and begin advanced and specialised training. Cadets will, in addition to training and providing 'Hoveller' patrols for the benefit of Sea Rover members, also participate in the activities of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association.

Note carefully that this programme is intended to provide trained younger members to the rescue organisations and not to compete with them.