Coastguard Trainex – Marlborough Sounds
Earlier this month Picton Marina was host to the Coastguard’s largest training exercise with over 80 Coastguard volunteers and 13 rescue vessels.
Over three days, Coastguard volunteers from across the region, as well as NZ Police and Hato Hone St John, took part in a series of challenging scenarios designed to sharpen their skills ahead of the busy summer season.
The exercise focused on four key objectives: multi-unit cooperation, crew readiness, search techniques, and on-scene command experience.
For many crews, the journey to Picton was a training opportunity in itself. Coastguard Rescue Vessels (CRVs) from Whanganui, Kapiti Coast, Mana, Wellington, Nelson, and Kaikōura undertook long passages, some requiring special permits, giving senior crew valuable experience in passage planning and advanced navigation.
The weekend featured realistic scenarios – from overdue kayakers and missing fishers to a complex mass rescue involving multiple vessels and casualties. Crews worked together under pressure, coordinating searches, administering first aid, and managing patient handovers with Police and ambulance crews. Instructors added unexpected challenges like equipment failures to test adaptability and decision-making.
The exercise wrapped up with a debrief and awards ceremony, concluding an action-packed weekend focused on building confidence, capability, and connection across Coastguard units ahead of the busy summer season.
