This document contains summaries of some of the incidents RCCNZ has responded to over the last week. Please note it is not intended as a comprehensive report on RCCNZ activity.
There were 10 Category II incidents this week
RCCNZ also assisted Police with five Category I incidents this week.
On Tuesday morning the skipper of a fishing vessel located the bow section of FV K-CEE on the shores of Secretary Island, near the entrance to Doubtful Sound. FV K-CEE, with 2 people on board was last reported to be in the vicinity on Monday morning, heading towards fishing grounds at Charles Sound. There was no distress signal received from the vessel. A Police-coordinated search commenced, using three helicopters, a fixed-wing float plane and five vessels. Police also requested assistance from RNZAF with a P3 Orion tasked. RCCNZ assisted by providing search area determination (drift) plans. Late on Tuesday afternoon the remainder of the wreckage was located 7 nautical miles off Charles Sound. A dinghy that was thought to be strapped to the wheelhouse was not located with the wreckage. The P3 Orion searched an area of over 800 square nautical miles with nothing significant sighted. All other search units were stood down for the night. The search recommenced early Wednesday morning. Some significant findings included two floorboards from an inflatable dinghy, a life raft bladder and the EPIRB which had not been activated. RCCNZ also provided a Cold Water Exposure Survival Model to Police. The grid search continued throughout the day with areas close to the shoreline searched including areas not already covered.
Pacific Trawling contacted RCCNZ to ask for assistance in contacting one of their fishing vessels, the Pacific Explorer. They had not been able to contact the vessel through their SAT C communications system and the Trimble Tracking system was unserviceable; they believe that the system needed a reboot. The vessel departed Napier on Monday to head out to the Chatham Rise, its usual voyage taking between 10 and 14 days. Although not deeply concerned about the vessel's safety, the owners were concerned that no communications had been received. Maritime Radio commenced broadcasts to the vessel and other shipping that may have seen the vessel, in order to gain further information. In the absence of further contact and response to the broadcasts, a RNZAF P3 Orion aircraft was tasked to search an area, however prior to departure the vessel's owner confirmed contact from the vessel had been received and they were returning to port ahead of schedule.
RCCNZ conducted a two day air observers course in Paraparaumu for local operators.
