DFES and Marine Rescue WA introduce Deckee Yanchep News ...

A FREE app designed to make boating safer and more convenient for everyone will soon undergo a public trial in selected areas including Two Rocks and Whitfords.

The log-on log-off (LOLO) app is able to be downloaded now but the LOLO function will not be available for use until the trial starts on Monday, February 17.

Marine Rescue Two Rocks commander Michael Henderson said the Deckee app was a log-on log-off that boaters could use to log on using their mobile phone.

The log on will appear on the screen in the radio room allowing marine rescue volunteers to know where boaters are heading.

“Currently we don’t get a great number that log on,’’ he said.

“Hopefully this will encourage people to log on themselves – they don’t have to use the radio they just use the app on their phone and log on.

“For us it makes it a lot easier because we know the boats are out there – we don’t precisely exactly know where they are – but it gives an indication so if something goes wrong we’ve got a starting point.”

The other benefit is if boaters want to extend their time out on the ocean they can also do that on the app.

“They just go in and update their trip and that will replicate back to (the radio room) on the screen.

“At the moment if they forget to call up on the radio to extend their time then they become overdue – we just don’t know have they gone home and forgotten to log off or what have you?’’

Boaters are invited to join the trial to help the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Marine Rescue Western Australia ensure the app works well.

To get started you first need to download from the App Store or Google Play.

Second is to use the LOLO service to log your trips during the trial from February 17 to April 17.

Third is share your feedback with the project team by emailing loloproject@dfes.wa.gov.au or talk to your Two Rocks or Whitfords marine rescue group volunteers.