New Naiad on its way

The Coastguard Hibiscus column is back in action from this issue for the summer boating season.
Over winter the unit elected a new president, Keith Roberts, who has been getting to grips with the politics involved in his busy role at the top, aided by outgoing president Hugh Lemmon. Hugh will play a support role as the unit’s immediate past president, a less taxing but nevertheless important role, ensuring lessons of the past are not forgotten in the change of personnel.

Exciting news for Coastguard Hibiscus crew has been the recent confirmation that most of the funds for the next Hibiscus Rescue One, a 9.5m Naiad, have been successfully secured. The confirmation came from the Hibiscus Sea Rescue Trust, working closely with Coastguard Northern Region and Coastguard NZ, and enable a contract to be signed for the build to commence.

The custom-built Naiad is of a well-proven design, and is suitable for front-line, fast response. It is capable of maintaining speed in the harsh, choppy seas encountered in the Hauraki Gulf and will replace our existing ex-Team NZ Protector. Crew safety is paramount and comfort important with the long hours that we spend at sea, and this will be reflected in the layout and design of the open hardtop cabin and crew stations. Bolster style seating, allowing standing or sitting, depending upon sea conditions, will significantly reduce crew fatigue.

State-of-the-art electronic navigation and communication equipment will be installed with propulsion 2 x 250HP outboard motors, estimated top speed 45 knots, cruising speed around 30 knots. The budget is $430,000 with construction expected to commence later this year, enabling sea trials and crew training to be completed and commissioning into Coastguard Service by mid 2011. The vessel will be based at Gulf Harbour.

The unit will be attending the Hibiscus Coast Boating Club Open Day 12–4pm on Sunday, October 3 with our Sealegs and marquee, offering safe boating information, selling Coastguard memberships and signing up Coastguard crew. Highlights of the day include a fishing competition and weigh-in, display area with boats, electronics, fishing gear, food, kids play area etc. and a Boating Club raffle including a free Coastguard membership spot prize.