Communications Centre

Based in the Coastguard Whakatane Headquarters located at the Heads, the Communications Centre is manned 7 days a week, 365 day a year. The manning hours are from 08:00 to 18:00 hours during most of the year - this is extended to 20:30 hours during Summer Holidays.

Ph: 07 3087110
Fx: 07 3086477
email: coastguard@coastguardwhakatane.co.nz

Channels Monitored

Marine VHF: Channels 16, 60, 63, 80
Single Side Band: 4417 Khz

Repeater Channels

VHF 60: Boat to Boat Comms

VHF 80: Boat to Coastguard Comms

Coastguard Whakatane encourage all boaties to call Coastguard on leaving port and on returning. Also during the day when moving position.

1. All vessels intending to depart or enter across the Thornton, Opotiki and Ohiwa bars are asked to advise their intention to do so prior to the crossing.

2. CG Whakatane will log the call and monitor the vessel

3. Once safely across the bar the vessel reports it's safe crossing.

4. If no safe crossing report is recieved within 10 minutes by CG Whakatane the vessel will be called on VHF 80 and 60 to confirm the safe crossing.

5. If the safety of the vessel cannot be confirmed an "all stations": call will be made and the matter referred to a Marine SAR Advisor and the Police.

6. Boat owners using the Thornton, Opotiki and Ohiwa bars are encouraged to adopt this practice.

General

Coastguard provides navigational information and updates to the Marine weather and tides times during the day on both channels 60 and 80 at:

0800hrs
0945hrs
1345hrs
1645hrs
1800hrs

For weekend manning of the communications centre, we rely on volunteer radio operators. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer radio operator click here to register your particulars and someone from Coastguard will be in contact with you