Coastguard Whakatane to welcome new rescue vessel

27 October 2011

Coastguard Whakatane to welcome new rescue vessel

Coastguard Whakatane is proud to unveil its new rescue vessel at a special event this weekend after raising an outstanding $655,000.

The new Whakatane Rescue II, which will be revealed this Saturday at 10:00am at the Whakatane Coastguard boatshed, is a 10 metre Naiad rescue vessel and will replace Whakatane Rescue which has been with the Unit since 2002.

Coastguard Whakatane President, Peter Milton, says the new vessel which comes complete with seating, a small room for patients and new technology, will help to ensure that volunteers are equipped to deal with any scenario when venturing onto the water.

“Our volunteers risk their lives in an effort to help those in trouble on the water. They don’t ask for a cent to do this, but they do need the best possible training and equipment to support them and we are confident that Whakatane Rescue II will help them do just that.”

It took the Whakatane unit just nine months to raise the necessary funds thanks to help they received from Coastguard New Zealand (through the service level agreement), Lion Foundation, Pub Charities and local businesses including Altex Paints, Alloy Cats, Naiad, Auto Retrimmers, Grass Roots Trust, Southern Trust, Ocean Sports Marine, Haddock Spray Painters and PPG Paint Suppliers.

“Whakatane Rescue II would not be launching if it was not for the support of our local community and generous organisations,” says Mr Milton.

“The volunteers are really looking forward to putting the new vessel through her paces. With daylight hours extending, it’s the perfect time to get Whakatane Rescue II in the water and familiarise themselves with the new vessel before the summer season really kicks off.”

Coastguard’s Whakatane unit is one of the busiest in the eastern region. Its 63 volunteers responded to 94 calls for assistance from 2010-2011 and dedicated over 12,954 hours of their time to fulfill
Coastguard’s community promise of saving lives at sea.

What: Whakatane Rescue II launch
Date: Saturday 29 October
Time: 10:00am
Where: Coastguard Whakatane Boatshed, Muriwai Drive, Whakatane

About Coastguard New Zealand:
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 New Zealand is a volunteer organisation with a charitable status. It has more than 18,000 supporter members and 2,244 active Professional Volunteers who provide around 350,000 hours of their time each year to educate, protect and help save lives at sea. Coastguard performs over 3,000 rescues each year assisting almost 7,000New Zealanders. There are currently 72 dedicated rescue vessels in Coastguard New Zealand’s fleet, 10 air patrol units and one dedicated communications unit. All crew members on board Coastguard vessels and air patrol craft are trained search and rescue personnel working to enhance the safety of all New Zealanders when they participate in boating and water activities.

ENDS

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