MAYDAY and Rescue Coordination in New Zealand Waters
What this domain tests
This domain tests what happens after the Mayday is heard: who takes charge, what a nearby vessel is expected to do, and how the New Zealand system hangs together.
Who is listening
- Maritime Radio (Taupo Maritime Radio) is New Zealand's coast radio station, maintaining a continuous watch on VHF Ch 16 around the coast and on HF distress frequencies offshore, and broadcasting coastal warnings and weather.
- RCCNZ, based at Lower Hutt within Maritime New Zealand, coordinates search and rescue across the New Zealand search and rescue region - one of the largest in the world, running from subtropical waters south across the Southern Ocean to the Ross Sea.
- Coastguard units, Police, Defence Force aircraft and helicopters, and volunteer vessels work under RCCNZ tasking.
The Mayday call, in order
MAYDAY three times; "this is" plus vessel name, callsign and MMSI; MAYDAY plus name once; position in latitude and longitude or a bearing and distance from a charted landmark; nature of distress; assistance required; persons on board; any other useful detail (colour of hull, drifting, liferaft deployed); OVER.
What a nearby vessel does
Acknowledge, inform Maritime Radio or RCCNZ of your position and ETA, proceed at best speed, keep a listening watch, and be ready to accept appointment as On-Scene Coordinator if asked. Follow RCCNZ instructions on communications - often a working channel - and keep Ch 16 clear for the casualty.
Worked example
You are eight nautical miles from an unacknowledged Mayday. Reasoning: the distress has priority over everything, but so has orderly coordination. Acknowledge the casualty, tell RCCNZ who you are and your ETA, then proceed. Do not go silent, and do not release the casualty to shore until RCCNZ or the Coastguard confirms handover.
Traps that cost marks
- Heading for the casualty without notifying anyone, leaving RCCNZ with no asset plot.
- Switching the radio off after the rescue and breaking the communications link.
- Failing to log times, positions and instructions received.