Coastguard Hibiscus Unit Receives New Purpose Built Vessel

26 April 2012

Coastguard Hibiscus Unit Receives New Purpose Built Vessel

Boaties in the Hibiscus Coast area will notice a new look for Coastguard Hibiscus with a new purpose built vessel joining the fleet ensuring both boaties and Coastguard’s volunteers continue to stay safe on the water.

Operating out of Gulf Harbour, the 9.5 metre Naiad vessel named Hibiscus Rescue 1, will be the Unit’s first ever purpose built main rescue vessel, replacing the original Hibiscus Rescue 1 which was donated to the unit from the 2003 America’s Cup.

President of Coastguard Hibiscus, Keith Roberts, says volunteers from the Unit are thrilled and very proud of the new vessel, and are looking forward to getting her out on the water and being available to help boaties in need.

“With our previous vessel getting older, it was requiring more and more maintenance and it became clear that a new vessel was a priority for us.

“Every day our volunteers risk their lives to save New Zealanders in trouble on the water and they don’t ask a cent for the work that they do, just the right equipment and training that they need to do the job safely.

“Thanks to generous sponsorship and solid fundraising efforts, Hibiscus Rescue 1 will ensure that our volunteers can not only respond to calls more efficiently, but its high-tech equipment will also help to keep them safer on board,” he says.

Powered by two 250HP Yamaha Four stroke engines, Hibiscus Rescue 1 also comes equipped with full Raymarine electronics including high definition radar, twin touch screen plotter, depth sounder and electronic digital engine management and monitoring systems.

“Our volunteers are excited about spending time behind the helm and are fast familiarising themselves with the new layout of the vessel and its resources and electronic search tools. These will vastly improve our search capabilities, meaning stricken boaties can be accurately located much faster, no matter what the conditions are at sea,” explains Mr Roberts.

Over two years, a total of over $450,000 was raised to build Hibiscus Rescue 1. Coastguard Hibiscus and Hibiscus Sea Rescue Trust worked with local organisations and charitable foundations to get the funds needed to start the build.

Donations were also made by Coastguard Northern Region through support from the ASB Community Trust, Coastguard New Zealand, The Lion Foundation, and Trillian Trust. The unit is immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed and made this project possible.

Coastguard Hibiscus has attended over 122 calls for assistance over the past year with 255 people assisted to safety. The unit also operates a 7 metre sea legs rescue vessel out of Stanmore Bay.

The new vessel is an exciting new asset to add to the 33 strong vessel fleet that now supports Coastguard’s marine search and rescue activities around the Northern Region.

About Coastguard Northern Region

Coastguard is the charity that provides New Zealand’s primary maritime search and rescue service. The organisation operates from a network of four regions and 71 affiliated units, located around the coastline and major lakes of New Zealand. Coastguard’s Northern Region covers from Thames across to Kawhia and up both coasts to the Far North.

Each year Coastguard’s Auckland based Communication & SAR Response Centre receives over 100,000 VHF marine radio calls. Last year Coastguard’s 2,224 volunteers ensured that 6,996 people were bought safely back to shore.

Coastguard Northern Region however, is equipped to manage more than just daring rescues at sea. Generations of dedicated people have established an organisation that provides a wealth of services to every person using our harbours and beaches.

• We provide a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service.
• Install and maintain VHF radio repeaters throughout the Northern Region to enable mariners to communicate with each other over long distances.
• Install and maintain buoys and beacons to make recreational boating safer.
• Provide a 24 hour continuous weather forecast on marine radio VHF channels 20, 21, 22 and 23.
• Accept trip reports from any vessel able to make radio contact.
• Provide a range of boating education courses to ensure that boaties have a sound knowledge of their boats and the rules of the road at sea.

ENDS

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