The Fisheries Development Section recently received a grant from New Zealand's Pacific Regional Head of Mission Fund to purchase three sea safety kits. The kits were supplied by Navstation Ltd, New Zealand. In an emergency situation it is often essential to have safety gear in one easily accessible spot that each crew member knows about.
Convenient locations are the wheelhouse or in a cabin.
The VHF radio can be used to contact search and rescue airplanes or other vessels in the area. The other items in the grab bag serve as a supplement to the equipment and provisions usually found packed with life rafts. Aside from the basic contents listed above, grab bags can be personalised by the addition of a first aid kit, a fishing kit, and spare food and water. SPC's Fisheries Development Officers will carry a safety grab bag on all future sea duty travel. The section has one spare kit available to other SPC staff who may venture out in boats in the course of their work.