| Who
are Coastguard Southern Region?
|
|
Coastguard Southern Region Inc. (CSR) is affiliated
to Coastguard NewZealand . Coastguard
New Zealand
operates from a network of
4 regions and 69 affiliated units,
strategically located around the
coastline and major lakes of
New Zealand
. We
provide
New Zealand
's
primary Maritime Search and Rescue service.
CSR is one of the four
regions established in 2003. We have 15 units comprised of 3 air patrol
units (CAP's) and 12 wet units stretching from Kaikoura and Greymouth
down to Bluff and Riverton of the South Island of New Zealand.
Our office is based in Christchurch and
is operated by a staff of 2 with a Board made up of representatives
from each Unit.
|
| Mainlanders leading the
way....
|
|
The operation of a marine Search and Rescue organisation in
New Zealand
dates back to records held in the
late 19th century. In October 1861, the first report of a lifeboat being
used, appeared in the Lyttelton Times. The first official lifeboat was
ordered by the Canterbury Provincial Secretary, in June 1862 and 2 years
later it arrived and was stationed at Timaru. It served off the
Canterbury
coast for
another 20 years. The first permanent rescue service was established at
Sumner in 1898 and the Sumner Lifeboat Institute still exists today as a
member of Coastguard Southern Region.
|
| CSR's role.... |
|
The main role of CSR is to assist and support
its volunteer units. This is achieved with improvements in
communication, support with organization, assisting with training and
increased opportunities for funding.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Coastguard relies
on the support of the Lottery Grants Board, Coastguard Lottery proceeds, minor
corporate sponsorship, and most importantly the generoisty
of
local communities.
The goal of the region is
to insure that our volunteer Coastguard Units have all the tools
necessary to perform their duties to the highest possible standard.
|
| Wet
Units.... |
|
Many wet units
operate more than one vessel to respond to the variety of incidents that
occur in their local area. Jetskis are now also included in our rescue
fleet.
The equipment on board the Coastguard Rescue
Vessels (CRV) includes marine electronics like radar, GPS and VHF radio.
Safety, medical and survival equipment is also carried to respond to a
variety of incidents. Our CRVs are required to carry additional
lifejackets of a particular standard and fit, suitable flare packs for the
operational area, safety devices such as personal strobes, EPIRB and life
rings.
|
| CAP Units.... |
|
The Coastguard Air Patrol's main task is air surveillance
during a marine Search and Rescue incident.
The Air Patrol is a vital resource in a SAR incident,
its speed to the scene cannot be matched and the visibility gained from
the air is one of the Coastguard's greatest assets, as the aircraft
provides the best and fastest opportunity to sight a vessel or person in
distress.
The aircraft operated by Coastguard Air Patrols vary in make
and model, but have similar characteristics. They need to be able to carry
4 people and a full tank of fuel, to ensure maximum endurance. Ideally the
wings should be fixed above the cockpit to allow for 360 degrees of
visibility, and there needs to be space on the dashboard for additional
communications equipment. In addition to this, a GPS and a chart plotter
are also onboard to carry out search patterns and ensure the best use of
time in the air.
All Coastguard aircraft are maintained in top operational
condition and are ready at any time to take to the air and conduct a
marine air search. As with all our Units, Coastguard Air Patrol crews are
volunteers. The majority of the Air Patrols are "on call" 24/7 and have
regular training sessions every month.
|
| The
training never stops.... |
|
Unfortunately Coastguard Units have usually been formed by
the local community as a result of a local boating tragedy.
Every year, Coastguard Southern Region’s network of radio
operators answer thousands of calls for help or assistance and our
volunteers respond 24/7 with no hesitation. The work
performed by Coastguard has resulted in many lives saved and millions of
dollars worth of boats and equipment salvaged.
But Coastguard is not just about dramatic rescues. It is
hard work. All units have intensive ongoing training on a regular
basis to enable all crew to be armed with the best possible skills to
ensure their survival and the survival of those needing help. This greatly
enhances the level of response to emergency call-outs and provides
the boating public of the region a first class professional rescue
service. Here are some of our stats for the 2006-2007
year....
|
|
Activity
Fundraising
SAR Ops
Radio
Watch
Preventative
Actions
Training
Admin
Repairs/Maintenance
Education
Total Volunteer
Hours
|
Hours
2,947
4,031
9,860
3,264
14,030
8,992
4,131
3,613
50,868 |
Activity
Radio
Calls
Calls for
Assistance
Calls Involving
Police
Stand
Downs
Value of
Craft
Vessels/Aircraft
People Assisted
|
Amount
16,883
221
112
36
$3,534,500
32
442 |
|
So who are
we?.... |
|
Over 2,500 volunteers
around New Zealand make up Coastguard's unpaid professional workforce
.
Our skilled and highly
trained volunteers are from all walks of life, across many professions and
span a wide age range. But we all have two special attributes in
common. We love the water and being out on
it.
We want to do the right
thing. Saving the lives of the people in our community is the most
valuable and worthwhile contribution we can make to society. For
some of us, its about giving something back. For others, its about
smiply doing what's right with no strings
attached.
The training that
Coastguard provides throughout New Zealand gives boaties the essential
knowledge an skills they need. This helps reduce the chances of them
ever needing to be rescued.
We provide over 270,000
hours of time every year to make sure that local boaties can enjoy the
magnificent waterways that we have, secure in the knowledge that should
anything go wrong Coastguard will be there to
help.
|
|
'SAVING LIVES AT
SEA' |
