Rescue vessel passes first test

By CLAIRE TREVETT

A new high-tech rescue mothership has safely berthed in Auckland after a rocky trip along the east coast from Picton.

Auckland Coastguard's new vessel, Lion Foundation Rescue, had a taste of things to come on its delivery voyage, meeting swells of up to 6m around East Cape.

Coastguard president John Cowan said the boat, which was designed and built by Naiad Inflatables in Picton, passed its first test with aplomb, to the delight of its crew.

This ability to handle rough conditions would allow the coastguard to go out safely in seas too rough for smaller boats.

Lion Foundation Rescue would be used in search and rescue missions throughout the Hauraki Gulf, out to Thames and Great Barrier Island.

The 14.6m vessel would act as the nerve centre for large-scale searches in the Gulf.

Mr Cowan said it would be a "mothership" for the coastguard's nine fast-response boats.

High-tech tracking and radio systems, linked to the coastguard headquarters in Mechanics Bay, meant it could plan and run searches.

Its strong towing platform allowed it to tow broken-down boats to shore.

Coastguard rescuers on the fast-response vessels could use it as a pit-stop - it had berths for overnight missions and shower, galley and bathroom facilities.

Construction of Lion Foundation Rescue began last July, with money from the Team New Zealand 2000 Trust and the ASB Bank Community Trust.

Running and maintenance costs would be met by the Lion Foundation.

Mr Cowan said the boat would be put to work after staff training over the next few weeks.

Lion Foundation Rescue's vital statistics

* At 14.6m long, Lion Foundation Rescue is believed to be the second largest rigid-hulled inflatable (RIB) in New Zealand. The America's Cup Team NZ tender RIB is 18m.

* It has an aluminium hull and superstructure.

* The large foredeck will help winching from the WestpacTrust rescue helicopter.

* It has a two-berth ambulance bay, enclosed fly bridge, two crew berths, a saloon and galley.

* The high-tech cockpit holds radio and communications equipment, linked by a private UHF radio link to the land-based headquarters at Mechanics Bay.

* The RIB has advanced computer screens for displaying radar, GPS tracking, sonar and search patterns.

* It is usually crewed by four people and has a range of 400 nautical miles.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine