8.5m Naiad ‘Russell John Chisholm’

The ‘ Russell John Chisholm’ came into service in August 1999. Named for the young boy who was one of four people who lost their lives in a tragic air accident in Foveaux Strait. Russell’s family and friends raised the funds to purchase this vessel.

We don’t do this to be rewarded

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

In the twelve months to 30 June 2010 the 18 professional volunteers of Coastguard Riverton

• gave 4,571 hours of service, 96% up on last year
• spent 10 hours in search & rescue operations and 1,206 in training activities
• answered 11 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 9 Police initiated search & rescue operations, a 80% increase over last year
• rescued 30 people

Since July 2010

Our Volunteers have

• given 257 hours of service
• spent 88 hours  in training activities

Keeping our Community Promise – Saving lives at sea

The latest Search & Rescue operations involving Coastguard Riverton are

Motor fails on fishing trip

5th June 2010, 4 men out for a days fishing in a 5m Bayliner left for a days fishing around 10am.  The sea was rough with a 2.5m swell although the day was fine.  On arrival at the fishing reef the fishing was so poor they decided to return home and on the return journey the main engine failed.  Their axillary engine was only 8hp and was unable to cope with the rough conditions.  Unable to trigger the VHF repeater they managed to call a friend by cellphone who alerted Police.  Coastguard Riverton volunteers were paged and they launched the Russel John Chisholm heading out to the GPS coordinates provided by the vessel in distress.  Locating them at 11.30am they took the Bayliner under tow and were able to return them safely to Colic Bay.

Vessel Sinking Stewart Island

15 May 6pm a launch with two people on board struck ‘gull rock’ at Stewart Island and began to take water on board.  They sent out a distress call on the VHF radio and Coastguard Riverton and Bluff units sent their rescue vessels to assist.  Also launched was a private vessel from Stewart Island which reached the people adrift in their dingy and assisted them to safety.  Coastguard was stood down on route.

Fishing Trip Tragedy

May 2010: A man’s body was found by a helicopter in Foveaux Strait after the boat he was in capsized when it was hit by a freak wave.  Two men were fishing off the east coast of Dog Island, 5km from Bluff, when the 4.7m boat they were in capsized about 2.30pm.  The boat was spotted by passing fisherman who realised it was a man sitting on top of the boat.   The man on the upturned boat, who was wearing a lifejacket, told the fisherman the boat had been hit by a freak wave about 2.30pm and he and the 50-year-old man he was fishing with had climbed on top of the boat. But the 50-year-old man got cold quickly, slipped off the boat and decided to try to swim to Dog Island.

Coastguard volunteer crews from Riverton and Bluff searched along with a local helicopter. The boat was found about 1.5km to the northeast of Dog Island and the man’s body was spotted by one of the helicopters about 500m off the island about 8.50pm.  Coastguard Riverton recovered the man’s body and took him to Bluff.

Engine troubles near Saddle Point

31st January a runabout experienced engine troubles and was unable to reach planing speed.  Consequently it used all its fuel before it was able to reach home.  Coastguard Riverton volunteer crew were called by Police to assist and using Russel John Chishom Rescue they took the boat under tow until it was safely back to port.  Police and Coastguard noted that it was much better for the boats skipper to use his VHF radio to call for assistance early when the boat was easy to locate than for a search to be initiated later when they failed to return home.

Busy October for Coastguard Riverton

5 October a paddle boat crossing the Riverton bar had a mechanical breakdown with is paddle and got into difficulties.  Russell John Chisholm Rescue towed the vessel to safety.

16 October a 7m boat had engine failure near Gardeners Bay and started drifting out to sea.   They managed to anchor and  Coastguard Riverton responded to a call for assistance and towed the vessel with 4 people on board to safety.

17 October a radio call from a 10 year old child was relayed to Coastguard.   It appeared that all the adults on the vessel had gone diving and the child was alone and distressed that they hadn’t returned yet.  Coastguard contacted Police who arranged for a local helicopter with two Coastguard volunteers on board to search for the vessel.  Attempts to re-contact the child by VHF radio were unsuccessful.  On locating the dive boat they found that the divers were back onboard and the VHF radio had been turned off.  The adults were unaware that a radio call had been made by the child.  Police were understood to be following up with the family.

Vessel Sinking

11^th November 2008 called to assist boat that was swamped with 6 people on board when the motor stopped. Stood down when nearby ferry assisted.

Jet ski in difficulty

31^st October 2008 called to assist family with new jet ski when motor stopped. Tide and wind were pushing it out to sea.

Volunteer with Coastguard Riverton

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

The incredible support of DHL allows Coastguard Riverton to be one of the best equipped Coastguard units in the country.

The Southland Branch of HANZ have supported our Stewart Island Fishing Competition fundraiser since 1998, and for this we express our deep gratitude. GMD Timaru also support our Stewart Island Fishing Competition and enter teams into this event. Their support contributes to the success of the event.

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

Where we come from

Coastguard Riverton started 50 years ago when two teenagers lost their lives on the Riverton bar was the catalyst for the community to form the Taremea Bay Rescue Unit with a second hand clinker built wooden boat and an equally second hand outboard motor. Later they became the Riverton Volunteer Lifeboat Institute and then six years ago they became Coastguard Riverton.  Early members Jack Burns, Murray Beer and Steve Bickley have been honoured with three of the six life memberships awarded by Coastguard Rivertson, acknowledging their contribution to the success of our organisation.