Boaties praised for taking proper preparations ahead of bar drama

by Don Scandrett on 23 Dec 2009 A dramatic incident at the entrance to the Manukau Harbour Bar yesterday afternoon could have cost lives had it not been for the boaties themselves being properly prepared and ready for such an incident says Coastguard.

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The incident involved a 7 metre aluminium runabout with four people aboard who issued a distress call to Coastguard to say that they were taking on water and were attempting to enter the south channel of the Manukau Harbour Bar. In the process, the boat capsized and all of the occupants ended up in the water.

Coastguard Rescue Vessel’s Trusts Rescue and Papakura Rescue One, as well as an Inflatable Rescue Boat from the Karekare Surf Lifesaving Club responded to the scene of the incident and pulled all of the occupants out of the water.

Coastguard Northern Region Operations Manager Ray Burge says that the boaties had taken all of the necessary precautions for crossing a bar and when things had gone wrong, they were able to be rescued quickly.

'They were all wearing lifejackets, they carried all the necessary safety equipment, they were using a marine VHF Radio and they had lodged a Bar watch report with Coastguard.'

When the occupants entered the water they had also activated an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) which was also picked up by the RCCNZ (Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand) who contacted Coastguard.

'When the RCCNZ contacted Coastguard, our Rescue Vessels had already been called out' says Mr Burge, making for a quick and successful rescue.

'As the EPIRB was registered, Coastguard was able to confirm that the boat that was in trouble was the same one that had issued the earlier distress call'.

Mr Burge says that this incident highlights not only how things can go wrong out on the water but also how taking the proper preparations and precautions does save lives at sea.

'Things can go wrong out on the water and sometimes they can happen very quickly, even for those who are well prepared. 63% of recreational boating deaths in New Zealand are due to capsize, so the potential for something to go wrong in a situation such as crossing a bar can have devastating consequences.'

'By carrying two forms of communications on their boat they were always in contact with Coastguard. We knew who they were, where they were and what their situation was and Coastguard was able to get its volunteers out to save them very quickly'.

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