8.5M Naiad RIB Jet ‘Queenstown Airport Rescue’

Launched in March 2008 this Coastguard Rescue Vessel is on loan from Coastguard New Zealand. Powered by an inboard jet unit it was originally in service with Coastguard Cape Egmont.

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We don’t do this to be rewarded

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

In the twelve months to 30 June 2010 the 22 professional volunteers of Coastguard Queenstown

• gave 3,079 hours of service
• spent 365 hours in search & rescue operations and 1,552 in training activities
• answered 23 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 17 Police initiated search & rescue operations, a 70% increase over last year
• rescued 25 people

Since July 2010

Our Volunteers have

• given 33 hours of service
• spent 22 hours  in training activities and 3 hours in search and rescue operations
• Answered 1 assistance cal and one Police initiated search & rescue operation

Keeping our Community Promise – Saving lives at sea

The latest Search & Rescue operations carried out by  Coastguard Queenstown volunteer crews are

Chinese lantern mistaken for Flare

Coastguard Queenstown was called out on Sunday 1st August 2010 when a member of the public reported a flare sighting on Lake Wakatipu near Fern Hill.   Queenstown Airport Rescue, with three volunteer crew aboard,was launched at 22.39 hrs (10.39pm) and began a shoreline search.  Eventually it was ascertained by the Harbormaster and Police that the sighting had been of a floating Chinese lantern and the search was called off at 00.10hrs (12.10am)

Missing Diabetic Found

Coastguard Queenstown volunteers joined in the search for a missing diabetic on Sunday at 8pm for three hours then launched Queenstown Airport Rescue and continued to search along the shorline overnight.   A searching helicopter spotted his vehicle which has crashed off the road and into the lake the following day.  Coastguard recovered the body to Sunshine Bay.  Our sympathy to the family.

Rafters Overdue on Lake Wakatipu

7 May 2010 a group three on a makeshift raft had been seen heading to Pigeon Island and not returning for two days.   Coastguard Queenstown were tasked by Police to search for them and 4 volunteers went out at 7.50am on Queenstown Airport Rescue.  They were located near the island at 10am having made repeated attempts to row back but been blown ashore on the island.  Coastguard Queenstown volunteer crew brought the three back to Queenstown, safe but cold

Climber Lost – Private search Vessel Out of Fuel

23rd January 8pm, Police task Coastguard Queenstown to locate  a vessel on Lake Wakatipu which had been looking for a friend overdue when climbing on Cecil Peak.  The runabout with six people on board had run out of fuel and had no running lights.  Queenstown Airport Rescue’s volunteer crew continued the search of the shorline and hills around Cecil Peek but could find no sign of the missing climber.  They towed the vessel and its passengers back to Queenstown.  The climber was located the next morning by helicopter higher up the peak and was taken to hospital injured and suffering from shock.

Mirage Sparks rescue operation

20 December at 8pm Police are alerted by experienced yachties living on Queenstown hill of a yacht larger than a hobie cat capasized in Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu.  These observers reported they saw the yacht upside down and waves breaking on the hull.  The lake depth in this area is approximately 15metres.  Coastguard volunteers in Queenstown Airport Rescue undertook a ‘creeping  line’ search using the sounder.  No evidence of anything was found after two hours and the Police stood the search down.  Police confirmed subsequently that they observed the area from the same place the following night and confirmed that it is a very convincing mirage.

Barge Flips

Coastguard Queenstown was called by Police to assist after an 18-tonne barge flipped while transporting fertiliser.  The incident took place at 2.30pm on 4^th November and Coastguard professional volunteers assisted with towing the barge back to Cecil Peek Station.  A tractor is at the bottom of Lake Wakatipu however the skipper, Philip Rive, swam out of his submerged cabin and escaped injury.  Queenstown Airport Rescue provided the Queenstown Council with pollution control assistance and divers checked if there was any fuel leaking from the barge before attempts to right the vessel were made.

Overdue boat

24 July Police are notified that a rental boat with 5 people on board is overdue on Lake Wakatipu.  Coastguard rescue vessel Queenstown Airport Rescue is deployed  at 6pm to searchy along with a local helicopter and other local vessels.   Coastguard professional volunteers undertook a search using the last know position of the vessel, Pigeon Island.  Using radar they were able to locate the vessel which had broken down causing it to have  no communicaiton or lights.  The Australian tourists were cold and frightened and were taken back to Frankton by Coastguard, who also managed to repair the rental vessel and bring it back.

Jetboat & Jetski collide

5^th January 2009 a jetboat and jetski collided in the Kawarau River. Coastguard Queenstown assisted Police in the search for and the recovery of the bodies of two men killed in the incident over three days.

Search for Intoxicated Person New Years Morning

Around 2am on New Years day Coastguard Queenstown were called to assist in the search for a man who had been reported missing by friends after going swimming in the lake in an inebriated condition. After an unsuccessful search the man was found safe and well in his hotel room.

Police Transport provided

9th December 2008 Coastguard Queenstown provided transport to Police personnel to Walter Peak Station to attend an incident on land.

Paraflight in difficulty

22^nd October 2008 called by Police to assist ‘paraflight’ operator who was having difficulty in retrieving a client in a strong Southerly wind. Stood down on route as resolved successfully without incident.

Volunteer with Coastguard Queenstown

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 Queenstown could not operate without the continued, generous support of New Zealanders. We acknowledge the special relationship we have with Queenstown Airport Company without whose generous support we could not operate. We are proud to also acknowledge the support from our Patron, Grant Dalton.

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 Queenstown in the message section. Thank you for your support.

Where we come from

Coastguard Queenstown was started in 2007 in response to requests for the development of a well trained and professionally organised service to replace the adhoc system which called around looking for an available boat. A small but enthusiastic group formed and began fundraising and training to be ready for the delivery of their Coastguard Rescue Vessel in March 2008.