In a maritime milestone for Tauranga, the eagerly awaited new Coastguard boat destined for the Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard is set to make its grand arrival on Monday.

Having embarked on Saturday morning on a seafaring journey from the boat builder’s yard in Whanganui, the new TECT Rescue vessel charted its course through the sea, reaching Wellington on Saturday afternoon. There it spent the night before casting off once again on the next leg of its voyage to Napier, where it will stay on Sunday night.

Anticipation is building as the state-of-the-art craft, larger, swifter, and equipped with enhanced capabilities for sea rescues, prepares to make its triumphant entry into Tauranga Harbour on Monday.

Design image of Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel by Teknicraft Design. Image: Supplied.

This nautical advancement marks a significant upgrade, poised to replace the existing coastguard vessel and bolster the region’s maritime rescue capabilities.

“We have one night in Wellington, one in Napier, then arriving Monday late afternoon, around 5 – 5.30pm,” says Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard volunteer and previous skipper Simon Barker.

Simon is driving back from Whanganui, via Wellington, then Napier, arriving around noon on Monday ahead of the vessel’s arrival into Tauranga harbour.

“One of our other boats will go out to the entrance as it comes in.”

Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel leaving Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui on Saturday morning, December 16, 2023. Photo: Simon Barker.

Simon says the conditions for voyaging around the bottom of the North Island and up the east coast have been ideal.

“It’s been windy this week, but today [Saturday] is beautiful weather, blue skies, flat calm.”

As a coastguard volunteer for the last 18 years, but with an engineering background, Simon has been one of those involved in the design and build process of the new boat.

“Basically we needed something more capable. We’ve built on what we’ve learned over the last 15 years with the current boat. And what we’ve got is a slightly bigger version, it’s larger, and slightly faster than what we’ve got at the moment.”

Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel being built at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

Simon says it was about 2015 that they started thinking of the time scale to work on for a replacement vessel.

“We started seriously on the process of what we wanted about 2019. It’s been four-and-a-half years from concept to design and build. “

He says they considered a number of different designers and options, then selected a designer and a builder.

“Teknicraft designed it. They are just south of Auckland and design a lot of the police boats, Kaikoura Whalewatch boats, and Customs boats. The builders are Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui.They have built a lot of boats of this style and do a lot of building for Teknicraft boats.”

The specs

Teknicraft have designed a 14.8m foil-supported catamaran with a 5.5m beam.  The foil support will allow for a softer ride and will support the weight of the vessel at speed. 

Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel being built at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

The size of this new vessel makes it slightly larger than the rescue vessel it will be replacing.  The draft is 0.7m which still allows the vessel to navigate in fairly shallow waters.

The cruising speed of the vessel will be 28 to 30 nautical miles per hour, which exceeds the maximum speed of our current vessel. This increase in speed allows the new vessel to potentially attend to a vessel in distress at Major Island at least 40min faster.  

Even though there is a 350hp increase in engine power in the new vessel, it will cruise faster than the current CRV’s top speed and will consume at least 60 litres of diesel an hour less when doing so.  This is partly due to the engine’s electronically controlled unit injectors that give low exhaust emissions with good fuel economy, thus making it a more economical vessel to run.

Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel being launched at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

The vessel will be powered by twin Scania DI 13, which are 600hp diesel injection commercial engines.  The boat will use 140 litres an hour travelling at its operating speed.

Tauranga's new rescue vessel has been designed entirely for on-water rescue functionality. 

Everything on the vessel serves the purpose of helping the crew perform best practice, from housing items as small as night vision units, to the side fenders which allow the vessel to barge alongside other boats without causing damage to either vessel. 

More details about the vessel's specifications can be found here

Sponsorship

The current Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard boat will have its name ‘TECT Rescue’ transferred to the new boat, reflecting the much appreciated sponsorship and support of TECT.

“We’re keeping the same name as other one, and we’ll sell the old boat early in the new year. So it will be TECT Rescue,” says Simon.

The fundraising efforts for the new vessel have been massive. Major sponsors include The Tauranga Maritime Trust, Grassroots Trust Central, Lottery Grants Board, as well as TECT.

Zespri, Tauranga City Council, The Lion Foundation, NZCT, Mackay Strathnaver Trust, Pub Charity, Port of Tauranga, Eves, Pak ‘n Save Cameron Road, First Mortgage Trust, Craigs Investment Partners, EMAC Electrical, Brian Scantlebury, Lions International and Trevelyans are amongst the considerable number of sponsors.

“The whole project has cost around $2.8million over all,” says Simon.

“TECT has been the largest funder, giving $650,000 to the project. It’s all been paid for now. We started fundraising over the last four years, contributing just over $1million and other donors contributed $1.8million.  It’s a very expensive commodity.”

Inside the cabin of Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel while it was being built at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

Training

On board the new boat as it heads to Tauranga over this weekend are Scott Lee, Todd Wakerley and John Cox, all volunteers and skippers.

“There’s quite a lot to learn, it’s quite sophisticated inside. Four of us went down to Whanganui. We have done training this week, and the three other skippers are taking the boat back by sea, while I travel up by car.

“After Christmas there will be a fair amount of training with our existing skippers and crew.”

Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel being launched at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

Todd and Simon both work for Monkeytoe, an engineering company. Scott works for EMAC Electrical and John is a self-employed tiler.

“Our companies all support the volunteer work that we do for Coastguard,” says Simon.

People from any job occupation or walk of life can volunteer for coastguard, as crew, skippers, radio operators and other roles. Simon says people who are keen to be involved as volunteers need to know it’s “quite a commitment”.

Anyone can volunteer for coastguard, as crew, skippers, radio operators and other roles. Photo: Supplied.

“Anyone who is interested, contact our unit. We have a training coordinator who will get in touch with them to tell them more about it. They can join as crew, and they may end up as a skipper.”

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard's mission statement is “Saving Lives On The Water”.

It takes a team of duty officers, wet crew, radio operators, fund raisers and administrators to ensure they meet their goal. Even if you only have a few hours per month to give, or don’t fancy the water - there’s a role for you.

To volunteer for Coastguard or to find out more information about volunteering click here.

Inside the cabin of Tauranga's new Coastguard TECT Rescue vessel while it was being built at Q-West Boat Builders in Whanganui. Photo: Supplied.

The new Coastguard vessel is due to enter Tauranga harbour on Monday, December 18 between 5pm and 5.30pm, weather dependent. People will be able to watch it arrive from Sulphur Point or Pilot Bay.