Coastguard rescue results in radio upgrade

The dramatic Coastguard rescue of a father and his children in the Firth of Thames has resulted in a significant technology upgrade for the unit that attended.

Coastguard Maraetai responded to the call for help in July 2020 after the family’s kayak capsized in rough conditions, a kilometre from shore near Kaiaua.

“It was a real challenge to locate the family,” says President and Skipper of Coastguard Maraetai Trent Dixon.

“We had to work closely with Coastguard Thames, and our air patrol and communications teams, and that really drove home the importance of having good comms gear onboard.”

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The operation was subsequently named Coastguard New Zealand’s ‘Rescue of the Year 2022’ but at the time Coastguard Maraetai was using a set of old radio headsets that didn’t integrate with the radio.

This meant they had limited functionality and the signal sometimes broke up while in use - forcing crew to resort to using their mobile phones to coordinate with other rescue services.

For Trent and his team of volunteers at Coastguard Maraetai, the challenge of using the old headsets during the rescue was a wake-up call.

“After the Kaiaua operation we realised we had to do something urgently about the old headsets - find a way to upgrade them.”

As a charity which relies on donations and volunteers, Coastguard Maraetai applied for and received a grant of $25,000 from the ANZ New Zealand Staff Foundation.

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“Having good radio gear means you can clearly speak to everyone, clearly hear a distress call, even with the engine and all the other surrounding noises. It makes what we do more effective and mitigates a lot of the risk of misunderstanding - in some cases that could be the difference.”

Trent Dixon - President and Skipper of Coastguard Maraetai
 

This paid for a new state-of-the-art digital radio system, giving the crew greater control and clarity over their communications with each other and with other emergency services.

“I don't want people shouting at each other on the boat because they can't hear,” says Trent.

“Having good radio gear means you can clearly speak to everyone, clearly hear a distress call, even with the engine and all the other surrounding noises.

“It makes what we do more effective and mitigates a lot of the risk of misunderstanding - in some cases that could be the difference.”

For Coastguard Maraetai crew member and medic Annie Lee, the new radio gear is a huge improvement.

“Situational awareness is a big thing and you have to be aware at all times where all your crew members are, and what's going on,” she says.

“The new headsets give you this because you're in touch with everybody, and everybody can hear what you're saying.”

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Since its inception in 2000, the ANZ New Zealand Staff Foundation has distributed over $9 million in community grants to more than 1000 charities and community projects nationwide.

“You can see how a new radio system like this makes a real difference,” says David Bricklebank, Chair of the ANZ New Zealand Staff Foundation Advisory Board.

“It makes it safer for the volunteers who crew on the boat, and gives those boaties who find themselves in trouble the best chance of rescue.

“We’re really proud to have been able to support Coastguard Maraetai and help the wider boatie community with this.”