15 October 2014

Search continues for overdue vessel

The multi agency response in search of two people from an overdue vessel continues, coordinated from Coastguard’s Northern Region Operations Centre.

Coastguard volunteers in Coastguard’s search aircraft, and on-board rescue vessels ‘Kawau Rescue’ and ‘North Shore Rescue’ have completed their assigned search areas where several items of debris have been located along the western side of Kawau Island.

Coastguard’s search assets are now starting to congregate on NZ Navy Vessel ‘Manawanui’ to begin an intensive line-of-breast search of the area.

Lion Foundation Rescue is on route to the area deliver LandSAR personnel. They will then join the search.

Several Coastguard communications volunteers have come in to provide support in the Operations Centre as it continues to manage other routine incidents and marine radio traffic.

Coastguard Operations Manager Ray Burge says that we continue to work with Police as the incident controllers, Harbour Master, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, LandSAR and the NZ Navy with all search and rescue agencies involved doing all we can to achieve the best outcome. “This is what Coastguard volunteers train for” says Mr Burge.

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 Northern Region operates the area from Thames across to the Mokau River and everything north and is based at the Auckland Marine Rescue Centre (AMRC) in Mechanics Bay. Each year the operations room at the AMRC receives over 100,000 VHF marine radio calls.

Coastguard Northern Region however, does more than 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.

ENDS

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