9.5m  AMF,  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue

We don’t do this to be rewarded

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

In the twelve months to 30 June 2010 the 36 professional volunteers of Coastguard Canterbury

• gave 9,174 hours of service, 9% up on last year
• spent 315 hours in search & rescue operations and 3,745 in training activities
• answered 53 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 20 Police initiated search & rescue operations, a 18% increase over last year
• rescued 84 people

Since July 2010

Our Volunteers have

• given 718 hours of service
• spent 305 hours  in training activities and 8 hours in search and rescue operations
• Answered 1 assistance call
• rescued 2 people

Keeping our Community Promise – ‘Saving lives at sea’

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

Flare sighting

20th February at 8pm a flare was sighted 4 miles off Adderley Head.  In addition the vessel made a distress call by VHF Marine Radio and set off their beacon.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue was launched and located the vessel just pst Baleine Point with 3 people and a dog on board.  The vessel had a flat battery and was unable to get started.  Coastguard Canterbury provided a ‘jump pack’ and the engine was restarted.  The vessel was escorted to Naval Point slipway.   The Maritime NZ Rescue Cordination Centre which managed the operation because of the beacon activation noted that the skipper had, in their opinion, ‘used distress signals inappropriately’ as the VHF radio call for assistance would have been adequate in the circumstances.

Vessel Aground

7th February 1730hrs a runnabout was aground near Camp Bay.  Pub Charity Canterbury Rescue assisted and found that there was wataer in the vessel due to engine failure.  Coastguard Canterbury volunteers towed the boat to the slipway.

30 January – 4 Rescues in one day

Coastguard Canterbury volunteers were kept busy with Saturday boaties in trouble.

• A runabout with 6 people on board had broken down outside Purau Bay.  With a large cruise ship moving down the channel the Pilot boat Canterbury had taken the vessel under tow until Coastguard Rescue Vessel Magic of Auckland arrived and completed towing them to safety at Naval Point.
• Advised by Police that a 16ft yacht was stuck between Quail Island and Governors Bay.  Magic of Auckland searched for the vessel and when Police checked for the informant they were advised that the yacht had got its engine going and had moved on.
• Naval Point Yacht Club advised of a Kayaker stranded on a rock at the western end of Quail Island.   Coastguard Canterbury volunteers took him onboard Magic of Auckland and returned him to Cass Bay.
• A yacht capsized in Governors Bay with 4 people on board and Police tasked Coastguard Canterbury to assist.  Magic of Auckland launched to assist but stood down as the people were reported safely ashore.

Yacht upturned Cass Bay

4th January while on patrol in Lyttelton Harbour Police notified Coastguard Canterbury of an upturned vessel in Cass Bay.  Magic of Auckland with 3 crew aboard responded and found the yacht with two people on board had a broken tiller and was unable to steer and keep the boat upright.  The sailing dingyhy was taken under tow and with its crew returned safely to the beach in Cass Bay.

Jetski in Difficulties

9 th December Police notifed of a jetski in difficulties hear Quail Island, Lyttelton Harbour.  Once located it was discovered they had engine failure and the jetski with two people on board was towed to the Charteris Bay boat ramp.

Kayaking Tourist Safe

November 11th the Police received a call from a boat skipper who was concerned about a kayaker he had seen paddling from Sumner to Little Akaloa.  The weather forecast was SW 25-30 knots.  The Police tasked Coastguard Canterbury to find the kayaker and check on him and his intentions.  MoA was launched and commenced a search out towards Little Akaloa.  Locating the kayak in Little Port Cooper where he had taken shelter, they ascertained that he was not in any difficulty and was happy to continue on his journey.   MoA returned to Lyttelton.  The Police then requested that an officer be taken to speak to the kayaker so MoA ferried him out to Little Port Cooper, and once the police officer was satisfied that the kayaker was sufficiently prepared for his trip MoA returned to Lyttelton again.

Body Recovered in Lyttelton Harbour

17 October Coastguard Canterbury called to assist Police with the recovery of a man’s body in Lyttelton Harbour.   A police photographer, the pathologist  and Police Sergeant went with the volunteer crew to collect evidence from the scene.

Capsized Sailing Dingy

24^th January 2009 called by a member of the public to assist a capsized sailing dingy. Three people in the water refused to board the rescue vessel MOA and were towed to the shore. The vessel had capsized due to rudder failure.

Vehicle Off the Cliff at Purau Bay

3^rd December 2008 called to assist with the rescue of a person in a vehicle that had gone off the cliff at Purau Bay. Stood down as rescue helicopter sent.

Search for missing Naiad

31^st October 2008 MoA dispatched with Police divers to search for yellow Naiad lost with two men, one of whom was still missing, on the report of an ‘oil slick’ by a member of the public. Unable to find the vessel or any other sign and returned to port.

Search for Missing Men and Naiad

28^th October Canterbury Coastguard joined other local Coastguard Units to search for two men who failed to reach Lyttelton from the pipeline operation of the Brighton beach. MOA, CD Rescue and other vessels searched through the night using over 30 white parachute flares and in difficult conditions. CD Rescue crew recovered the body of Jody Campbell and took him home to Lyttelton. Shore crews assisted with planning and logistics. 29^th October Canterbury Coastguard vessels assisted with a grid search throughout the day for Tony Utteridge without success. Canterbury Coastguard volunteers express their sympathy to the families of Mr Campbell and Mr Utteridge.

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

• Performance Marine
• Pub Charity
• Perry Foundation
• Kordia
• Christchurch City Council

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.