Marine search and rescue exercise near Kapiti to test emergency capabilities

Marine search and rescue capabilities are to be tested during an exercise to be held on the Kapiti Coast on Saturday November 13th.

The exercise will involve members of the Wellington Police Search and Rescue (SAR) and the Wellington Police Maritime Unit, Coastguard personnel and vessels from Kapiti and Mana, Surf Live Saving, Coastguard Kapiti Coast Air Patrol, and Rescue Coordination Centre NZ.

The exercise has been designed to simulate a real-life scenario as closely as possible, and will test command and control, communications, search patterns and team work. In the event of poor weather conditions the same scenario will be played out, but as a tabletop rather than practical exercise.

Sergeant Jo Holden, officer in charge of the Wellington Police District Search and Rescue squad says, "Commercial and recreational mariners alike need to be prepared for any possibility while they're out on the water."

"It's not always inexperience that catches people out. You can be well equipped with life jackets, rafts, radios and flares but still get into difficulty through weather, injury or mechanical problems. It's when people strike trouble that Coastguard, Police and others get involved."

The recently-commissioned Police vessel Lady Elizabeth 4 is expected to participate in the exercise.

Sergeant Holden says, "It has been almost three years since the last significant SAR operation involving the Police Maritime Unit and Coastguard. It is also rare for the two Coastguard units to either train or work together in a search situation, so this exercise will be a great opportunity for Police and Coastguard to refresh their combined Search and Rescue knowledge and skills."

The exercise is likely to be run on Marine Channel 84.

Around 25 - 40 people will be taking part and the exercise, which will begin around 10am on Saturday 13 November 2010 and is likely to run until mid afternoon.