Coastguard trip reports · New Zealand · checked Oct 2026

Coastguard trip reports: how they work, and what happens if you’re overdue

A Coastguard trip report records where you’re going, who’s on board and when you’ll be back, so a search can start in the right place. What many boaties don’t know: a regular trip report isn’t watched. Coastguard acts only if someone tells them you’re overdue. Here is exactly how each kind of report works.

SHORT ANSWER

Trip reports logged by VHF or *500 are passive: Coastguard doesn’t follow them up unless someone reports you overdue. In the Coastguard app, if you don’t close your trip, the app prompts you and, after three prompts, texts your shore contact. Bar crossing reports are different: Coastguard actively watches them and starts a search if you don’t close them.

How to log a trip report

Just tune your marine VHF radio to your local Coastguard Radio station or call us on *500 from your mobile.
Coastguard NZ, trip reporting · coastguard.nz

When you log your report, let us know: 1. The name and VHF Callsign of your boat. 2. Where you’re departing from. 3. Your destination, route, and estimated time of arrival (ETA). 4. The number of people on board.
Coastguard NZ, trip reporting · coastguard.nz

You can also log a trip in the free Coastguard app (Coastguard Tautiaki Moana). Logging by VHF needs a VHF Radio Operator Certificate and a callsign: Coastguard says “If you’re using a VHF radio for anything other than emergencies, you need a VHF Radio Operators Certificate”.

What happens if you’re overdue

Reports by VHF or *500: only if someone raises the alarm

Trip reports aren’t followed up unless we are notified that you are overdue, so make sure someone knows your plans and will raise the alarm if needed. If you are reported overdue, this simple information can narrow a search area considerably, and save time searching for you.
Coastguard NZ, trip reporting · coastguard.nz

Reports in the Coastguard app: a text to your shore contact

It is the responsibility of the app user to close their trip report once safely at their destination. However, if the Coastguard app calculates that you haven’t closed your trip report, the app will prompt you to close it. After three such prompts, if your report hasn’t been closed, the app will automatically send your shore contact an SMS.
Coastguard NZ, Coastguard app · coastguard.nz

That text goes to your shore contact, not to a Coastguard search team; Coastguard doesn’t publish how long the gap between prompts is. With location on, the app also sends your position to Coastguard every 30 minutes while it’s open.

Bar crossing reports: actively monitored

Bar crossings are a bit different because of the risks involved. We still record the same details as with a regular trip report, but we’ll follow up if you don’t close the report after a certain time - usually 15-30 minutes - because we want to make sure you’ve safely made it over the bar. It’s really important to close your bar crossing report; if you don’t, we’ll start a search-and-rescue response.
Coastguard NZ, trip reporting · coastguard.nz

Bar crossing reports can’t be made in the app — only by VHF or *500. Bar crossings in New Zealand.

So who raises the alarm?

For a normal trip report, someone ashore has to. Give them your plan, your return time and what to do if you’re late — Coastguard and Water Safety New Zealand publish a 2-minute form for exactly this. If they can’t reach you and you’re overdue, they call 111 and ask for Police.

Use it alongside VesselSOS

VesselSOS doesn’t file trip reports with Coastguard and doesn’t send automatic overdue alerts: its return-time check only asks “Are you OK?” on your own phone. What it adds is a live link for the person ashore — your position, speed and phone battery in any browser — so they can see where you are, not just where you said you’d be. Log your trip report with Coastguard as well, and close it when you’re back.

WHAT VESSELSOS DOES HERE

VesselSOS on New Zealand waters

Life in danger? Tap “Yes” and the app dials 111. The screen shows your GPS position in words and a word-for-word script that starts “Police. Boat emergency, I’m on the water.”, then where you are and what happened.
The rescue-centre list also has RCCNZ (0508 472 269) as a second Call button for offshore, and a VHF Channel 16 MAYDAY text filled with your boat’s details for you to read on your own radio.
A live link for family ashore (Plus, free during the beta): your position, speed, course and phone battery in any browser, no app needed on their end. You send it by text yourself.
Not an emergency? Tap “No” for Coastguard’s non-urgent line, 0800 262 843 option 1 (the same help as *500, which iPhone apps can’t dial).

What it doesn’t do: it doesn’t log a Coastguard trip report or bar crossing report, and it isn’t connected to 111, Police, Coastguard or RCCNZ. Nobody is alerted automatically if you’re late: the return-time check only asks “Are you OK?” on your own phone. The Coastguard app does text your shore contact after three unanswered prompts, so log your trip with Coastguard as well. A phone doesn’t replace a VHF radio, an EPIRB or PLB, or a lifejacket.

iPhone only, in invite-only TestFlight beta. Not in the App Store yet, no Android. New Zealand support (111 routing) is in beta version 1.5 and later.

Quick answers

Does Coastguard watch my trip report?

Not a regular one. Coastguard: “Trip reports aren’t followed up unless we are notified that you are overdue, so make sure someone knows your plans and will raise the alarm if needed.” Bar crossing reports are the exception: Coastguard follows them up if you don’t close them.

What if I forget to close my trip report?

For a VHF or *500 trip report, Coastguard says: “Don’t worry too much if you forget to close your report, but it’s a good habit to get into.” In the app, you’ll get prompts, and after three your shore contact gets an SMS. A bar crossing report must be closed, or Coastguard starts a search-and-rescue response.

Can I log a bar crossing report in the Coastguard app?

No. Bar crossing reports can only be logged by VHF radio or by calling *500 from your mobile.

Do I need a callsign to log a trip report?

To log one by VHF, yes: you need a VHF Radio Operators Certificate and a callsign.

Sources

CHECKED OCT 2026

Checked October 2026. Rules change — confirm with Maritime NZ, Coastguard or your regional harbourmaster before you go.

This page summarises the rules for planning; it isn’t legal advice. Where this page and the official text differ, the official text wins. Spotted an error? Email support@vesselsos.com.