Port of Tauranga

Port of Tauranga Comes to the Rescue

Posted on 12th July 2011

The Bay of Plenty rescue helicopter service is flying high with news that Port of Tauranga has committed to a four year sponsorship to enable the purchase and operations of a rescue winch to substantially enhance its rescue services.

Port of Tauranga Chief Executive Mark Cairns says the Port is very pleased to commence a significant partnership with the sponsorship of a rescue winch for the local emergency rescue helicopter service.

"We are proud to be able to sponsor the Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch. This is a significant sponsorship for our Company. We strongly feel it aligns our Company with the broader community we are part of. It supports our core business activities and it also supports an essential community service.

Mr Cairns went onto say that "the forestry sector is the Port's largest customer and with all of our business conducted around the marine environment, we felt having the Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch on the rescue helicopter would support our customers, other port and marine activities as well as the broader Bay of Plenty community. It is an essential life-saving service that will affect a large number of people in the community."

TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter pilot and Manager Liam Brettkelly says it's a major boost for the rescue helicopter service and will make rescues requiring urgent extraction both safer and faster.

"Our service is really privileged to have such great local businesses behind us with TrustPower, TECT and now Port of Tauranga. "This really shows how important the safety and well being of our wider regional community is to the Port. This investment also provides ongoing security for our service into the future."

Liam Brettkelly says, "The 450lb rescue winch can lift two people directly into the helicopter. In the past, we have used a fixed long-line but this is very time-consuming, and in some conditions, means a rescue helicopter from further away is required. A permanently mounted winch will mean we can attend more rescues and that extractions will be much quicker and safer with the patient loaded onto a stretcher and brought straight up into the helicopter."

"We rely on sponsorships and donations from TrustPower, TECT, funding trusts, corporates, community groups and our FRIENDS, and the very substantial support by Port of Tauranga is therefore very welcome indeed."

The winch will be named the "Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch".

For more information please contact:

Liam Brettkelly
Pilot & Base Manager
TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter
Mob: 0274 509 789

Sara Lunam
Corporate Services Manager
Port of Tauranga
Mob: 021 536 444

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