Blue Arrow Rescue Launching Issues

Silt and rock build up since the earthquakes has created a major launching problem for our all-weather vessel Blue Arrow Rescue.

For a period around low tide Blue Arrow Rescue can’t be launched from its boatshed. The end of the rails that guide the rescue vessel’s launch trolley are covered with silt and rocks, preventing launching.

This has become so serious that we are temporarily relocating Blue Arrow Rescue while we work on a long-term solution, which includes fundraising and planning to modify the slipway and launch equipment.

Temporary Location

From mid-late May 2025, Blue Arrow Rescue will be berthed in the estuary, at the jetty beside Dr Nigel and Wendy Gilchrists’ property at 153 Main Road, Redcliffs. We are grateful for the Gilchrist’s generosity / donation to Coastguard Sumner. This temporary mooring is essential for us to provide a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week response.

The vessel will be moored at the Gilchrists’ jetty until 1 October, during which time our presence will include:

• regular training sessions on Tuesday evenings (7:00pm–9:30pm) and every second Sunday morning (9:00am–12:00pm), subject to weather and operational needs; during these times the training will take place out at sea and only transiting the estuary at the start and end of these times; N.B. occasionally we use the vessel for ad hoc training sessions outside our regular training times; these are typically during daylight hours, and may be on any day of the week
• occasional emergency call-outs, which may occur at any time
• use of shore power to maintain vessel battery charge
• minimal time spent on the jetty by crew, with a focus on reducing noise and disruption.

We are fully insured through Coastguard New Zealand’s national provider, with coverage extending to the jetty and any associated risks. Our volunteer crew have also been briefed on the need to respect the neighbourhood and minimise any impact during our time in the area.

The Backstory

Ever since the earthquakes, rockfall material has been washed around Whitewash Head and deposited near the breakwater at Scarborough. In recent years this has got worse, and has seriously impacted our ability to launch Blue Arrow Rescue.

For several years we regularly dug out the rockpile to keep the slipway clear. This was an expensive exercise. However in the last year, the pattern has changed and we have found that the slipway is covered by rocks again within weeks of being cleared. The dig-out strategy has become impractical and unaffordable.

Therefore we have embarked on a project to deliver a permanent solution. This will modify the rescue vessel’s slipway and launch technology so that they will not be affected by rock and silt build-up, enabling a 24/7 emergency response again.

Meanwhile, we need to temporarily relocate Blue Arrow Rescue.

We considered berthing Blue Arrow Rescue in Te Ana Marina, Lyttelton, but this is not an efficient solution.

We are a fast-response Coastguard unit. Most of our operational crew are based in Sumner-Redcliffs, which enables them to be on-station within 5 minutes or less in an emergency. Travelling to Te Ana in an emergency would delay our response by many vital minutes.

The incredibly generous offer from the Gilchrists to berth Blue Arrow Rescue alongside their estuary property allows us to continue responding effectively to marine emergencies. We thank our local community for supporting this temporary arrangement.

The photos below show the current arrangement at our Scarborough boatshed, at times when there is sufficient water over the rails to allow launching and recovery, and the rock buildup problem that obstructs the rails around low tide.