Waihi Beach Coastguard welcome vessel

Waihi Beach Coastguard have officially welcomed its newest vessel, the $197,000 purpose-built AVOCO Rescue. Photo/Jamie Troughton

It has already been on the water since December but the new $197,000 purpose-built Waihi Beach Coastguard rescue vessel has now been officially launched.

The 5.8m Avoco Rescue is a Naiad-designed rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards. The Coastguard held a launching ceremony at its Bowentown headquarters on Saturday.

The event included a blessing from tangata whenua and key guests included Coromandel MP Scott Simpson and Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber.

Waihi Beach Coastguard spokesman Jim Pooley said the vessel was commissioned to replace Search Two, a 5.5m long vessel which had clocked up more than 1000 hours on the water since 2003.

The new boat joins Coastguard's primary vessel Gallagher Rescue, a 9.5m Naiad powered by twin 250hp Yamaha four stroke outboards.

The fleet expansion meant Coastguard was capable of covering two completely different areas, with Gallagher Rescue overseeing the Bowentown Bar, one of the most notorious in New Zealand, and Avoco Rescue protecting the channels and shallow areas of northern Tauranga Harbour.

Mr Poole said since hitting the water back in December, the vessel had logged 29 hours - a relatively low number despite the Waihi Beach community swelling from 2700 permanent residents to up to 30,000 people over the summer period.

Waihi Beach Coastguard president and operations skipper Tim Watts said he was pleased with the new piece of equipment for the organisation.

Search Two had been sold and its parking space had been giving to the local surf club to house one of their IRBs, he said.

Avoco have pledged an annual sponsorship contribution of $20,000 for three years which will go towards Coastguard's yearly operational costs as well as the running costs of Avoco Rescue.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber said there were times when people got into trouble and needed the help of Coastguard to rescue them.

The council had unanimously agreed to support the Coastguard's $20,000 funding application toward a building extension at its headquarters to house the new vessel.

Fast Facts

- Avoco Rescue was built in Mount Maunganui by Alloy Cats.
- It cost $197,000 and is 5.8m long, 0.8m longer than its predecessor.
- It is a Naiad-designed RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards.
- It is a walk-through design, enabling two extra crew to be on board and can accommodate the transportation of medical and search and rescue equipment, as well as a stretchered patient.
- It has radar capabilities, which will aid in safety at night and limited visibility when performing search and rescue missions for a missing person or vessel.