Search and rescue in the Pacific
Staying safe on the water
Preparation is key before you head out. Make sure you have the right knowledge, experience, and equipment.
Before you head out
Check the weather forecast. If in doubt, do not go out
Carry at least two types of emergency communications equipment that will work when wet, for example:
- distress beacon, 406MHz EPIRB, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
- VHF radio
- mobile phone in a plastic bag
- red hand‑held flares.
Do not rely only on a mobile phone. It may be out of range, have limited battery power, or become water‑damaged.
Prepare your boat:
- service the engine
- check and change the fuel
- check the battery
- give the boat a thorough check
- check your gear:
- make sure your lifejackets are fit for purpose
- make sure you have enough lifejackets for everyone on board
- make sure you know the “rules of the road” on the water, so you understand the requirements in your area.
When you are on the water
Know your boat’s limits. If it is designed for inshore use, do not take it far from land
- avoid alcohol. It slows your reactions and affects your ability to cope if something goes wrong
- if you are in a life‑threatening situation and need to be rescued:
- activate your distress beacon and leave it turned on until help arrives
- make a MAYDAY call on VHF channel 16.
Building search and rescue capability
Search and rescue prevention is a key part of the work of Pacific search and rescue partners, often referred to as PACSAR. This includes:
- delivering maritime safety education programmes
- Making sure that maritime safety regulations are in place
- encouraging mariners to carry and use safety equipment, including distress beacons (EPIRBs and PLBs) , vhf radios, and mobile phones.
How New Zealand supports Pacific search and rescue
Each year Maritime NZ and RCCNZ are involved in about 100 search and rescues in the region, both within and beyond New Zealand’s search and rescue region. Search and rescue agencies from other countries are often involved including:
- Australian Maritime Safety Authority
- United States Coast Guard
- search and rescue personnel in New Caledonia
Joint training, exercises, and real search and rescue operations all help to build effective capability with Pacific partners.
Over the past 12 months, Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has visited the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, American Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga to help build search and rescue capability. On these visits RCCNZ staff:
- build an understanding of each country’s operating environment and challenges
- identify training needs
- develop a joint work programme.
Each country then develops its own search and rescue plan.
New Zealand has funded around $8.1 million dollars of maritime projects in Tokelau, Tuvalu, Niue, Cook Islands, Tonga, and Kiribati, in 2016–2018. Projects include:
- upgrading maritime VHF radio channels
- improving lights, navigation beacons, and other aids to navigation
- in some cases, supporting search and rescue vessels.
Most of these projects are not search and rescue specific, but they help reduce the number of search and rescue incidents by improving maritime safety.
Alongside prevention, PACSAR work focuses on improving:
- governance
- coordination
- response.
Upcoming work includes:
- ongoing visits to Pacific countries
- developing national search and rescue plans
- working with nations to develop search and rescue legislation
- delivering training
- conducting audits.