You are welcome to visit us at our base at the Evans Bay Marina or to contact us any time.
Our Missions are:
- To save life and property at sea
- Foster maritime safety and training
Operations
We have two modern, powerful, fast-response Dedicated Rescue Vessels (DRVs):
Spirit Of Wellington and Phoenix Rescue.
From a total membership of about 150, we have over 80 active crew members forming 8 crews.
We operate on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between the hours of 9.00am and 6.00pm standard time, 9.00am and 7.00pm NZ Daylight Saving Time. Additionally, a Call Out crew is on 24hr a day standby, called-out by Wellington police via pagers.
During Duty hours we monitor the marine VHF distress channel :16, and communications frequencies - channels :14 and 62.
We provide advice to the boating public on weather and tide conditions and carry out crew training while patrolling Wellington harbour in the DRVs.
We also run in-house training evenings for the crews.
Committee
WVCG is an incorporated Society, run by a Management Committee.
Our AGM is held in October each year.
Liaison
In our life saving activities, we work closely with the Wellington Police, who co-ordinate Wellington maritime rescue services, particularly the Police launch Lady Elizabeth III along with the yacht and surf clubs, the Life Flight Trust and the Airport Rescue Fire Service.
Funding
As a volunteer community service, we rely totally on discretionary funding, including community funding, corporate sponsorship, membership subscriptions and voluntary donations. (find out about our discretionary funding)
History
10th April 1968 - 53 people lost - the 'Wahine' sank in Wellington harbour.
This was the defining moment that so tragically expressed the need for a Life Boat Service based in Wellington. This need was eventually met by the founding of this organisation.
The Future
We are now a mature and effective organisation - but we rely on the dedication of our (completely voluntary) members and the extent of our funding to maintain these qualities and realise our further aspirations.
If you would like to find out how you or your organisation might be able to help in any way, you can contact us. We would be pleased to hear from you.