Welcome to Coastguard Whakatane

Important changes to Radio Proceedure

Whale Island Tours starting 28 December .
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For longer than most of us can remember Skeds have been conducted on VHF and CB channels. The practice had it's origins in times when the volume of traffic was very low and a full coverage was not provided. Times have certainly changed - our radio operations are now 7 days a week and are for extended hours.

The calls we receive number in the tens of thousands per year. For some time boat operators have been encouraged to call on departure and return - there is a high level of compliance. Many are beginning to report a position change and that is being encouraged and will become accepted practice with time.

In order to streamline our practices and spread the load for our operators, your committee has decided that daily skeds will no longer be conducted on VHF. In keeping with accepted practice, boat operators are encouraged to call on departure and return and if appropriate, to call whenever changing location.

The use of CB Channel 6 harks back to another era when marine VHF radios were relatively expensive and uncommon and CB was inexpensive and popular. Again times have changed and calls on CB are few and far between. Effective immediately, CB channels will no longer be monitored.

Safe Bar Crossing Reports

For some time your committee has been considering how it might best deal with those bars it does not visually monitor. There have been a number of incidents with boats getting into trouble on the Thornton, Opotiki and Ohiwa bars and being unable to report their distress.

A "Safe Bar Crossing" protocol has been developed and is now in operation as follows:

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 received 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 Adviser and the Police.

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