RCCNZ marks 20 years
Three of the original staff members (Dave Wilson, Keith Allan, Neville Blakemore) and the youngest SARO (Josh Madgwick) cut the RCCNZ Birthday Cake.
A guest story from the Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ), which has responded to almost 20,000 incidents since its establishment in 2004.
The Maritime New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) is a crucial response agency responsible for coordinating Category II (national) search and rescue operations within New Zealand's search and rescue region, which encompasses land, air and sea. RCCNZ ensures a swift and efficient response to distress signals, missing persons, and maritime emergencies. Their role involves coordinating resources from various agencies, including the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Defence Force, and volunteer organisations, to manage complex rescue missions. By overseeing the deployment of rescue teams, organising communication among different stakeholders, and providing expert guidance, RCCNZ plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of individuals in emergency situations throughout New Zealand's vast and diverse environment.
In typical understated style, RCCNZmarked its 20th birthday on the 4th of July this year at its location in Avalon, Wellington.
From coordinating ship distress calls to airborne rescues and land-based emergencies, the RCCNZ continues to be the heartbeat of our national search and rescue safety net. In the 2023/24 season, it’s search and rescue officers (SAROs) responded to over 1400 incidents, with 35% (almost 500) of those initiating a coordinated search and rescue (SAR) response.
Since inception, the 24/7 SAR operations centre has responded to almost 20,000 incidents, with an average year on year increase of 10% per year in the last five years. It is a positive indicator that New Zealanders are increasingly getting out into our incredible backyard, but also a sign that population growth, increasing severe weather events and changing technology is impacting the SAR system.
The RCCNZ is one of New Zealand’s most effective ‘’exports’’. Beyond our land borders, the RCC leads international SAR collaboration, ensuring seamless coordinated rescue efforts across the 30 million square kilometre New Zealand search and rescue region (SRR) and sometimes beyond – stretching from about 500km south of the equator down to the South Pole, and from halfway between New Zealand and Australia to about halfway between New Zealand and South America. New Zealand’s SRR covers some of the most remote places on the globe.
To illustrate this, one incident in Feb 2022 that occurred in the middle of the Pacific Ocean was so far away from another vessel that the closest humans to the yacht in distress were aboard the international space station. The complexities involved in rescues across this kind of distance have presented some challenges over the years.
Some of the memorable rescues that have occurred since the article commemorating the 10 year anniversary include one from September 2023. RCCNZ was advised of a yacht travelling from Fiji to New Zealand that had encountered difficulty, and resulting in serious injury to the three Kiwi crew on-board and limited power/steering control. Shortly thereafter the vessel’s EPIRB was activated and the alert was received in Wellington. The yacht was approximately 250 nautical miles south-southwest of Nadi, Fiji, which actually lies within the Fiji Search and Rescue Region. Under RCC Fiji’s coordination, RCCNZ issued mayday relay broadcasts which were answered by nearby vessels (a superyacht and a cruise ship) which proceeded to the stricken vessel. RCC Fiji also tasked a Republic of Fiji Navy vessel which responded from Suva.
First on scene was the cruise ship, who took the casualty alongside and successfully transferred one of the survivors aboard before having to break away due to the weather conditions. Approx. 12 hours later, the superyacht and naval asset arrived on scene. The cruise ship positioned herself abreast of the wind and waves to create a lee, and the naval ship deployed her rescue boat which was then used to transfer the remaining two sailors off the yacht. Unfortunately one of the crew was found deceased. The vessels with survivors aboard travelled to Fiji, where all three sailors were handed into the care of Fijian authorities.
Another example of a collaborative rescue, on land this time, occurred 23 April 2021 when a party of three set off their personal locator beacon (PLB) in Deception River, Arthurs Pass national park. Because the owner had taken the important step of correctly registering his beacon, RCCNZ could use the contact details in the beacons database to establish that the registered owner had lent the beacon to three friends who had taken it tramping. He was able to provide details of their route and expected timings, confirming that the alert was likely an emergency.
The Greymouth rescue helicopter was called, briefed and tasked with the rescue. The operator tentatively accepted the tasking with the proviso that they may not be able to get to the location due to the very inclement weather. Hokitika Police SAR were also contacted and requested to ready the Land Search and Rescue team in case they were required. The rescue helicopter took off in an attempt to reach the party but was forced to return to base after 20 minutes of flying. After a discussion with Police SAR, it was agreed that they were now best placed to coordinate the rescue as a category 1 SAR incident. SAR coordination was formerly handed over to Hokitika Police SAR.
The Land Search and Rescue team walked in to the location and arrived on scene at 0300 and found the party on the riverbed. One of the men had early signs of hypothermia. They assisted by setting up tents and sleeping bags and waited until first light when the rescue helicopter was able to extract the party.
RCCNZ also has the responsibility for coordinating the response to ELT initiated and aviation incidents. On the 25 March 2014, a small aircraft was reported overdue on a flight from Ardmore. Using intelligence from reported sightings, and where radar contact was lost about five nautical miles north-east of the airport, RCCNZ coordinated searches of the Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf, following the assumed flight path of the bi-lane. Over the next few days, searchers included RNZAF P3 Orion and Iroquois, Police launch DEODAR III, the Police Dive Squad, and several other helicopter and fixed wing resources. The search was finally suspended after an extensive search, and it came to light that the pilot had likely purposely flown his plane into the sea.
In a stroke of good luck, a fishing trawler found the wreckage of the plane months later when it became entangled in its nets, finally giving closure to the family.
In 2014, when RCCNZ celebrated its 10 year anniversary, 46,000 beacons had been registered - most of which were registered from 2008 when they switched to 406MHz beacon regulations and 121.5MHz beacons were phased out. Today, 10 years on, just over 170,000 beacons have been registered!
The system is always evolving, and improvements in beacon technology, satellite availability and satellite receiver hardware within the COSPAS SARSAT programme means the RCC can now respond to alerts much faster and locate casualties more accurately, ensuring beacons are the most robust and successful distress alerting devices on the market.
In recent years, and with the development of Second Generation Beacons, Return Link Service and Autonomous Distress Tracking (after the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines MH370) the Local User Terminal (NZ’s satellite receiving station) just out of Taupo has had a significant upgrade. The RCC hit a significant landmark when the new system was declared fully operational in June 2023, and in November 2023 NZ successfully networked with the Australian LUT, providing wider coverage and higher accuracy of received distress alerts. The successful networking with Australia was a key milestone for the international COSPAS SARSAT network as well, allowing it to declare worldwide coverage for Electronic Distress Transmitter (Distress Tracking) beacons and enabling the International Civil Aviation Organisation to maintain their scheduled introduction of the Global Aviation Distress and Safety System.
On the horizon for 406MHz Distress Beacons is the development of Two Way Communications, allowing RCC’s to communicate directly with the person activating the distress beacon using a form of SMS.
While modern beacons and distress calls via Marine Radio help to pinpoint the location of those needing help, RCCNZ says people still need to make sure information is available to help SAROs plan a successful rescue strategy. Carrying safety equipment such as a registered beacon, VHF radio, flares and a satellite phone (rather than relying on cell phone alone) is vitally important, and folk planning trips can also greatly assist is a rescue is required by telling their registered ‘contact’ person, family members or flatmates where they are going, what their plans are and how many are in their party.
This article was contributed by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand. Images supplied by RCCNZ.
Happy Birthday and thanks for all the great work.