Fuel prices bite Volunteer Coast Guard
In what would be the ideal cause-related marketing alignment, the Volunteer Coast Guard is seeking a major sponsor to relieve some of the pressure of footing a fuel bill that runs into the hundreds of thousands per year.
'Running the Volunteer Coast Guard vessels is a multi-million dollar commitment.'
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In the Brisbane region alone, loosely covering the waterways from Victoria Point to Peel Island, Flotilla Commander Allan Tennant anticipates spending $50,000 this year in fuel.
'We generally have to run our boats fast or we are out in tough conditions and either way that chews fuel ' he says, adding that fuel makes up around one-third of each region's operating expenses.
Receiving limited government funding - none from the federal government and a meager $20,000 from the state government, plus $150,000 for vessel replacement every 10 years, the Volunteer Coast Guard relies on donations, community support and sponsorship.
Commander Tennant, who himself devotes more than 20 hours per week unpaid labour to the VCG, says sponsors are crucial to keeping the service afloat.
'Our main priority is ensuring prevention of loss of life and equipment,' he explains. 'Our focus is search and rescue, then there's the bulk of our work which is assisting the boating community with breakdowns and things like that, as well as public education and training.'
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, a nationally accredited and Registered Training Organisation, offers the courses in Basic Seamanship & Small Boat Handling Course, Marine Radio Course and Coastal Navigation, and in some states, a Boat Licence Course.
What the service needs, according to Tennant, is a major oil company or big name marine brand to step up and contribute. 'We had application after application in with one oil company, but it just disappeared into a black hole.
'It would be a great opportunity for a company. They would get the naming of the boat, which is relayed to the entire boating community from the Gold Coast to Mooloolaba, as well as TV coverage.'
If it could be extended nationally, it would also be a brilliant marketing tactic, delivering a rare 'good news piece' in the favour of the oil (or marine) brand, given that the news has been all negative when it comes to the price of fuel in the headlines.
Imagine the CEO of X-petroleum handing over the sponsorship cheque. The company could easily leverage the partnership into photo opportunities of incalculable worth, tying in the brand with stories of heroic rescues and near-tragedies, all of which would ignite this country's mass and trade media.
More at www.coastguard.com.au
by Jeni Bone 
Labrador, QLD
