Coastguard West Coast has confirmed its rescue watercraft capability is now fully operational, marking a major milestone in the unit's rebuild after more than two years of work restoring local rescue capability.
Two rescue watercraft, commonly known as jet skis, are now available to support responses on and around the Grey Bar, following an extensive programme of volunteer recruitment, training and capability development.
The Grey Bar is one of New Zealand's most challenging boating environments, with fast-changing conditions and significant demand from recreational fishers heading offshore. The new rescue watercraft capability provides trained local volunteers with a fast, agile response option for incidents in surf and near-shore environments, including capsized vessels, surf zone searches and emergencies around the Grey River Bar.
The capability has been developed as part of Coastguard West Coast's long-term rebuild following the loss of its rescue vessel and challenges maintaining qualified skipper capability. Working alongside Coastguard's national support office and local partners, the unit has taken a deliberate approach to building a sustainable, fit-for-purpose rescue service for the region.
The rescue watercraft will operate within a defined area extending north of Dolomite Point, south to the north bank of the Hokitika River, and up to three nautical miles offshore.
"This is a huge moment for Coastguard West Coast and for the wider community. After two and a half years of hard work rebuilding this unit from the ground up, our rescue watercraft crew is now fully operational and ready to respond on the Grey River bar. I want to thank every volunteer who put in the hours to get us here, and the team who supported them along the way. The West Coast has its rescue capability back.
For local boaties heading out on the water, this means there is once again a trained Coastguard crew ready to respond in one of the most challenging environments in the country,” says Coastguard West Coast Unit President, Mark Bolland.
The unit rebuild has been supported by the Mayor, Talley's, Westfleet, and the Greymouth Boating Club. Police and Maritime New Zealand, who coordinate maritime emergency responses on the West Coast, have worked closely with Coastguard on the transition.
Coastguard West Coast's capability also extends inland, with vessel Lake Brunner Rescue, based at Lake Brunner, supporting the region's inland waterways including Lake Kaniere.
Boaties and lake users on the West Coast are reminded to carry an EPIRB or waterproof PLB and a mobile phone in a waterproof case, and to call 111 or use VHF Channel 16 in an emergency.
Coastguard West Coast remains a volunteer-powered unit and continues to welcome community support as it builds toward its longer-term vision for the region.
