RCCNZ case studies

After damaging it’s propeller, the Antarctic Chieftain became boxed in by ice floes. RCCNZ worked with the United States Coast Guard to rescue the 26-person crew trapped aboard the fishing vessel.

Maritime Radio reported that a 19-metre fishing vessel about 40 miles off the coast of Oamaru had a crewman who returned on deck from the hold and collapsed with chest pains and breathing difficulties.

An intensive search failed to locate the Tafadzwa, but it was spotted hundreds of kilometres away several weeks after the search was suspended. Only the skipper’s dog, Juanita, was found alive.

RCCNZ successfully coordinated the rescue of Amaltal Columbia, a fishing vessel, that caught fire 8 nautical miles (70 kilometres) north-east of the Lyttelton Heads, off the coast of Canterbury.

Glide Omarama reported that a glider piloted by a Canadian visitor had crashed into the head of Timaru Creek, in hill country west of Lindis Pass. The glider was seen to go down by other pilots.

RCCNZ respond to a beacon activated in January 2017, by two Swedish tourists who were swept down the swollen head waters of the Waimakariri River in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Nelson boatie Blair Taylor learnt the hard way recently that you need reliable communications to call for help when in trouble at sea.