6.8m Naiad RIB ‘Dunedin Rescue’

We don’t do this to be rewarded

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

In the twelve months to 30 June 2010 the 40 professional volunteers of Coastguard Dunedin

• gave 2,107 hours of service, and 8% increase over last year
• spent 185 hours in search & rescue operations and 954 in training activities
• answered 12 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 9 Police initiated search & rescue operations
• rescued 13 people

Since July 2010

Our Volunteers have

• given 335 hours of service
• spent 230 hours  in training activities

Keeping our Community Promise – Saving lives at sea

The latest Search & Rescue operations involving Coastguard Dunedin volunteer crew are

Rock Fisherman Drowned at Cape Saunders

April 2010 a fisherman was washed off rocks at Cape Saunders.  Coastguard Dunedin was called to assist as well as a rescue helicopter being sent.  The fisherman’s body was recovered by the helicopter.  The weather that day was fine with a fresh breeze, however the sea was very rough and was a danger to those fishing from shore.

Catamaran Aground

3rd February a Catamaran with two people on board was reported in difficutlies by a member of the public.  Coastuard Dunedin volunteers responded and found the boat near Wellers Rock in Otago Harbour.  It had suffered gear failure and drifted to shore blown by a gale force NE wind.  Dunedin Rescue took the catamaran under tow and took them to safety.

Fishermen Rescued

18 November  fisherman Glenn Coleman was swept off rocks below the Cape Saunders lighthouse and broke both ankles as well as gashing his knee.  A friend fishing with him called 111 and Police initaited a rescue.  Luckily for Mr Coleman, the fishing vessel Tirohia was about 600m offshore and headed straight for him.  Mr Coleman was picked up at 11.46am, after he had been in the water for an estimated 30 minutes.

The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter with the Dunedin Water Rescue Squad on board was deployed to winch the injured man off the boat, but could not safely use the winch because of the danger of entanglement in the boat’s fittings.  Coastguard Dunedin was sent with ambulance officers to meet the fishing boat and transfer the patient.  The two boats met in a sheltered position near Pilots beach and Mr Coleman was transferred to the Coastguard vessel Dunedin Rescue, which ferried him to the jetty at Wellers Rock.  Snr Const Kellas said the rocks below the Cape Saunders lighthouse were popular with fishermen but could be dangerous.  Two people were swept to their deaths from the Puddingstone Rock, north of Cape Saunders, in 1991.

November 17 a recreational fisherman at the centre of a rescue alert off the Otago coast yesterday afternoon was found by the Coastguard Dunedin in his anchored craft and calmly filleting his catch.  The man had left Waikouaiti about 9am, but when he had not returned by 5pm, his wife raised the alarm.  Coastguard Rescue Vessel, Dunedin Rescue was launched, fishing vessels alerted and a fixed-wing aircraft was sent to search for him.  Snr Const Kellas said the aircraft located the man about 1km off the Karitane coast and circled him until the Coastguard arrived.  The man had an emergency position indicating radio beacon, but no radio, and his cellphone was switched off.  Snr Const Kellas said the Coastguard crew took about 30 minutes to reach the man after passing Wellers Rock, but spent about “50% of the time in the air” in rough conditions.

Double Trouble

24^th January, received a radio call from a boat with two people on board drifting in the main channel off Port Chalmers. The local boat owner was experiencing motor failure possibly brought about by water in the fuel. Coastguard Dunedin responded in Dunedin Rescue. On the way they were signalled by another boat with four people on board needing assistance. This boat had a flat battery, so Coastguard Dunedin assisted them to use the battery from the first boat and they were able to return to shore themselves. The first boat was towed to Broad Bay.

Volunteer with Coastguard Dunedin

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 Dunedin could not operate without the continued, generous support of New Zealanders. 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 Dunedin in the message section. Thank you for your support.

Where we come from

Coastguard Dunedin was officially started in early 2006 when a group known as Harbour Rescue Inc was renamed and became part of the Coastguard New Zealand federation. On 25^th March 2006 we officially launched as Coastguard Dunedin and dedicated our new Coastguard Rescue Vessel.