North Island rescue helicopter services will be upping their marine rescue skills following the donation of a dedicated IRB practice boat.

The $10,000 IRB gives the service its own boat, where in the past the service had to borrow one from surf life savers.

The boat is sponsored by Device Technologies in memory of employee Ladislav Svarc who drowned in a Northland river in July while kayaking with friends.

The Philips Search & Rescue Trust took possession of the donated IRB over the weekend.

'The IRB will be used during Philips Search & Rescue Trust's rescue helicopter crew's critical wet and vessel hoist training operations,” says Philips Search & Rescue Trust Crew Trainer Simon Barton.

Having their own craft ensures rescue crews can undertake wet and vessel hoist training operations without the ongoing aid of an external supplier.

Two of Philips Search & Rescue Trust's helicopters - the BayTrust and the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopters - were part of the aerial search effort to locate missing Tauranga boy Jack Dixon earlier this month.

'The safety boat, purchased from the Mount Maunganui Surf Club, will be used across all our helicopter bases,” says Simon.

'It has been completely funded by Peter Mears and his team at Device Technologies. The boat will be fitted out with all the appropriate safety equipment and radio communications.”

The safety boat will be operated by qualified Rescue Swimmers, who will be on the water in close proximity to the operating aircraft and in full radio communications, always ready to provide assistance if needed.

Philips Search & Rescue Trust is the charity responsible for the North Island's largest pool of community helicopters. PSRT was founded in 1985 after an endowment by Philips New Zealand Limited to mark a light aircraft accident near Turangi in which two Philips personnel lost their lives.

The trust operates six rescue helicopters and two fixed-wing planes, providing air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis.

The rapid response is powered by an expert crew of pilots, paramedics, flight nurses, Police and volunteer crewmen. In a life and death situation their speed and agility can make all the difference, with patients able to receive medical treatment while en-route to a medical facility.

The crew at the Sulphur Point handover.