Howick News

Howick 2004 Rutherford Trophy Citation

INCIDENT #0190 FRIDAY 14 MAY 2004

In response to a pager call-out HOWICK RESCUE I was launched from HOWICK BEACH at 2010. The rescue call was to the vessel "JON TAY" with six people on board that had, at cruise speed run onto the reef off the northern end of PAKATOA ISLAND.

HOWICK RESCUE I was on-scene at 2045 and its crew proceeded to disembark some of the people from the "JON TAY". By this time the Auckland Coastguard Vessel LION FOUNDATION RESCUE had arrived on-scene and provided a pump to supplement that of HOWICK RESCUE I and a tender to enable both pumps to be transferred to the stricken vessel.

The skipper of "JON TAY" and one crew member elected to stay on board their vessel and assist the crew from HOWICK RESCUE I who, with help of the crew from LION’s tender had manhandled the pumps over the reef and were attempting to stop the inflow of water and pump out the stranded vessel.

By 2307 the incoming tide dictated the removal of all non-essential personnel from "JON TAY" and by 2316 a decision was made to evacuate all persons from the stricken vessel. This was accomplished by 2328 with all the crew of "JON TAY’ accounted for and safely on board LION FOUNDATION RESCUE.

A rescue that went well beyond the "call of duty" and carried out in a highly professional manner in the best traditions of COASTGUARD NEW ZEALAND and HOWICK VOLUNTEER COASTGUARD.

The crew of HOWICK RESCUE 1 comprised: Skipper: David Steward Helm: Colin Small Nav: Randal Hart Crew: Donald Allan Crew: Lloyd Richards