A new weather information channel on VHF marine radio means Otago boat users can now receive the latest weather information 24 hours a day.
Real-time weather condition updates will be broadcast on Channel 22 within the VHF radio coverage area on the new service, called NowCasting.
The service joins similar ones already operated by the Coastguard in Northland, Auckland, Kaipara, Raglan, Whitianga, Tairua, Whakatane/Tauranga, New Plymouth, Nelson, Cook Strait and Canterbury.
Coastguard Dunedin president Lox Kellas said the service was continuously broadcasting wind strength and direction information from a range of coastal sites, as well as the latest marine weather forecast and the local tide times and heights, from Taiaroa Head over a wide area of the Otago region.
The service used automatic anemometers, positioned at various sites, to report wind strength and direction every 60 seconds.
The Coastguard was grateful to Port Otago for allowing it to house equipment at Port Chalmers, as well as to use data from the various wind stations in the harbour.
Use of the Otago Maritime VHF Association broadcast site was "integral" to establishing the service.
The Dunedin service had been on air for testing over the past two weeks and was now fully operational, Mr Kellas said.
