Navy ships help fellow Mariners in need

Conducting pilotage training for a Naval Officer of the Watch Course around the outer islands of the Hauraki Gulf yesterday, Navy In-Shore Patrol Vessels HMNZS KIWI and HMNZS WAKAKURA were definitely in the right place at the right time to go to the aid of a local mariner in distress.

Responding to a call from the Coastguard around 4:30 pm that a vessel was stranded at the northern tip of Motutapu Island in the vicinity of Billy Goat Point, both ships immediately headed towards the area.

WAKAKURA launched her seaboat and with the ships’ Engineer and necessary equipment onboard went to the aid of the stricken vessel. After checking the engine, a dead battery was suspected to be the cause and, as this was unable to be rectified, KIWI offered to tow the vessel back to Okahu Bay, Auckland.

Commanding Officer of HMNZS KIWI, Lieutenant John McQueen said, “This was not an arduous task and there was no immediate danger, but the three men onboard would have been pretty cold had they not had any assistance soon - we were pleased to be able to help out a fellow mariner in need”.

Ensuring both the vessel and the crew members were safely out of harms way, both KIWI and WAKAKURA resumed their training programme. They will both take a break from the intense training schedule to berth at Whangarei from Friday 14 – Sunday 16 September before commencing another week of Officer of the Watch training. They are scheduled to return to the Devonport Naval Base in late September.

ENDS