Responding to a mayday

The first responder to a distress call is usually the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who are able to get overhead of a vessel and make an early determination of what help is needed, as well as dropping essential supplies.

The Navy may then be tasked to reach the vessel. The Navy always has a ‘duty’ vessel among its fleet, whose job is to depart within eight hours of being tasked with a search and rescue mission by New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre.

Distress calls can vary. Frequently our Navy ships intercept a distress call directly from a mariner nearby, particularly in the Hauraki Gulf where we train. Many events are minor, involving a mechanical breakdown or a vessel drifting, and the Navy, working with the Coastguard, can help with repairs or take a vessel under tow.

Other incidents can involve a Navy ship travelling hundreds of nautical miles, in seas that require a great deal of skill and professionalism to navigate. As well as being robust enough in rough seas to reach a location, the Navy’s Seamanship Combat Specialists are trained in small boat handling and line handling and will use the ship’s fast seaboats to reach a vessel, board it, and render aid.

When the MV Rena container vessel went aground on Astrolabe Reef in 2011, four Navy vessels were tasked with assisting in the response. HMNZ Ships Rotoiti, Taupo and Endeavour sent in seaboats in rough, oily seas to evacuate 27 crew members, who were climbing down the ship on a rope ladder.