Coastguard feels the pinch
When you are in trouble on the water, Porirua’s good samaritans are there to help: but rescues come at a high cost for the Mana Coastguard.
Since January, Coastguard volunteers have responded to 10 callouts from boaties in trouble, in five cases assisting in policeled search and rescue operations.
Five callouts were ‘‘ good samaritan’’ rescues, led by and funded by the Coastguard itself. This type of rescue comes when a sailor is stranded but lives are not at risk. Rescues in Porirua this summer included a yacht with an engine malfunction on a trip back from the Marlborough Sounds, and a fishing dingy swept six nautical miles offshore in fading daylight.
The Coastguard’s 35 volunteers put in about 20 hours a month each in training and rescue work, and can be assisting boaties well after midnight in three- metre swells, president Peter Feely says.
They are happy to assist, but each ‘‘good samaritan’’ rescue costs the Coastguard hundreds of dollars, Mr Feely says. Filling one of the Coastguard boats with petrol costs $2000, which will last for three or four trips.
‘‘It’s about $300 to start the boat.’’
The Coastguard relies on $ 45,000 of grant money and public donations each year just to exist, Mr Feely says.
‘‘That doesn’t put anything in the bank, that just keeps the fuel and maintenance and gear and safety training going.’’
A new $1 million boat is desperately needed, and Mr Feely is trying to figure out how to fund the upgrade. Sponsorship and a ‘‘friends of Mana Coastguard’’ scheme are being considered.
An upgrade of the group’s radios is also in progress, vastly increasing its ability to communicate with vessels in distress.
The 35-strong Mana Coastguard operates from a portacabin and shipping container at Mana Marina, and runs a tight ship, especially in the present tough funding climate, says volunteer and former president Trevor Farmer.
‘‘ We’re having to be much more realistic. All of our grants are either for replacement of equipment or operating costs. None of our money goes into frivolous stuff.’’
Despite the reasonable number of ‘‘good samaritan’’ rescues this summer, the majority boaties have been well-prepared on the water, Mr Farmer says. But equipment does fail for no reason, he says.
‘‘ They’ve done everything right but something’s gone wrong. Shit happens.’’
Some sailors have been so grateful for the Coastguard’s assistance they have donated hundreds of dollars to the group, Mr Farmer says.