Coastguard North Shore Volunteer and Skipper Mark Harnett was named the Chevron Coastguard Skipper of the Year for 2007.
This award is presented to the individual who, in the opinion of a selection panel, is the most deserving of recognition for their personal achievement, commitment to their community, contribution to Coastguard Marine Safety and contribution to their unit. Mark joined Coastguard in 2001 and has been a Skipper since 2004. Mark is well respected by the unit and has lead his crews through many major incidents, including a plane crash, heart attack and drowning. In all these incidents he demonstrated his leadership qualities, managing the incidents but also the crew and public emotions around the more traumatic events.
Part of the award is to spend a week at the Canadian Coastguard Training School on the west coast of Canada, where the latest in training technique and skills are taught in some of the coldest and, at times, roughest waters in the world.
On Mark's return, he was interviewed on TV1's Breakfast programme.