9.5m  AMF,  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue

 

We don’t do this to be rewarded

The Coastguard Canterbury’s 25 volunteer crew are well trained in search and rescue operations.

 

In the twelve months to 30 June 2011 the 25 volunteer crew members of Coastguard Canterbury

• gave 6,857 hours of service
• spent 202 hours in search & rescue operations and 2,941 in training activities
• answered 45 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 15 Police initiated search & rescue operations
• rescued 94 people

 

Since July 2011

Our Volunteers have

• given 2,514 hours of service
• spent 1,605 hours  in training activities and 83 hours in search and rescue operations
• Answered 15 assistance calls and 3 Police initiated search and rescue operation
• rescued 53 people

 

 

Keeping our Community Promise – ‘Saving lives at sea’

The latest Search & Rescue operations involving the professional volunteer crews of  Coastguard Canterbury are

 

Tug sinking in pegasus Bay

1am 22nd April. The Rescue Coordination Centre tasked Coastguard to rescue the tug Rakanui which was taking on water and in danger of sinking.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue worked with Sumner Lifeboat’s Blue Arrow using their salvage pumps to de- water the vessel.  After sometime the water level was reduced enough for the tug Skipper to restart his engines and may way to Lyttelton arriving 8 hours after the alert was raised.  Coastguard assisted the tug onto the wharf and recovered their salvage pump.

 

Mechanical difficulties

February: A ‘runabout’ with 2 people on board reported mechanical difficulties to the Police.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue with five volunteer crew located the vessel and towed them back to the slipway.

 

Dinghy causes navigational hazard

January Police tasked Coastguard to investigate a report of a submerged dinghy off Little Akaloa.  No reports of people missing and en-route it was confirmed that the owners were safe and well.  Located and towed the dingy to Lyttelton as it was causing a navigational hazard.

 

Lifeboat Drill ends in Disaster

8 January two crew members of the cruise ship Volendam had fallen overboard during a lifeboat drill.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue with 3 volunteer crew assisted in the search around the wharf area.  One victim was recovered by an other vessel and despite using their FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared camera) they were unable to locate the second crew member.  His body was later recovered by divers.

 

Dinghy Recovered

4 January semi submerged dinghy was reported off Little Akaloa, no reports of people missing.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue with three volunteer crew dispatched to the are to search.  On route it was advised that the vessel owners were safe and well.  Coastguard was asked to locate and retrieve the dingy as it was a navigational hazard.   The crew towed it to Lyttelton.

 

 

 

Volunteer with Coastguard Canterbury

Saving lives creates a special camaraderie that is unique to those who have experienced it. But in typical Kiwi fashion, our crew’s prefer to remain humble about it. If you are prepared to put in the time and effort to be a Coastguard Professional Volunteer contact us by email.

 

We don’t do this alone

Coastguard Canterbury could not operate without the continued, generous support of New Zealanders.

 

Our special supporters are

• Pub Charity
• Christchurch City Council
• Mainland Foundation
• Cochranes of Canterbury

 

To make a donation and join our team in saving lives at sea please use the ‘Donate Now’ button above to access our donations page and indicate Coastguard Canterbury in the message section. Thank you for your support.

 

Where we come from

Coastguard Canterbury was founded in 1977 by a group of volunteer boating enthusiasts who wanted to provide support to the many recreational users of the Lyttelton Harbour and Canterbury coast. Our skilled and highly trained volunteers are from all walks of life, across many professions and span a wide age range. But they all have something in common. They love the water and being out on it. They want to do the right thing. Saving the lives of the people in their community is the most valuable and worthwhile contribution they can make to society.