The ‘Safety of Life at Sea’ Distress and Safety Radio Service marked its 15th birthday in July 2009.

While the service began in October 1993, its official start date was 1 July 1994. Since then, thousands of people have been helped by the service when in trouble at sea.

The statistics show part of the story. Since 1994, 1,213 distress, or mayday, calls have been made to the service. A further 9,651 emergency calls and 648 calls for medical assistance have been received.

A total of 35,129 ‘people on board’ provides testimony to the lives in peril and in need of help.

And these figures do not include the thousands who use weather forecasts issued by the service each day and the many navigational warnings to enable mariners to navigate safely.

Maritime New Zealand Deputy Director, Safety & Response Services, Peter Williams, said the radio operation had now completed 15 years of outstanding service to the maritime community.

"Distress Radio provides a safety net for those at sea. The contribution the service makes to maritime safety cannot be overstated. The service means people who need help have someone to turn to in their time of need.

"By any scale, a total of more than 35,000 people is high. All of those people have benefitted from having a professional and capable distress radio service, provided by Kordia since its inception, working around the clock to keep those at sea safe."