Geoff Moore officially stood down as the group's unit commander on Monday after three years in the top job, making way for Malcolm Milliken.

Both men joined the Port Stephens division of the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, as it was previously known, in 1999.

Mr Moore spent four years as the group's operations manager before taking on the commander's role and admitted feeling some relief in parting with such responsibility.

"I think this will leave more time for the other things in my life, such as my family," Mr Moore said.

He will remain a member of the group. Mr Milliken is no stranger to responsibility either, overseeing six branches up and down the east coast in his position as senior regional officer.