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Showing posts from January, 2013

CARGO SHIP AGROUND OFF MOSTYN HARBOUR, NORTH WALES

A RO/RO cargo ship which ran aground off Mostyn Harbour in North Wales remains in an upright position, with no reports of any damage or pollution.   Just before 2pm on Wednesday 30 January 2013, Liverpool Coastguard was advised that the ‘Ciudad de Cadiz’ had gone aground off Mostyn Harbour on the Salisbury Bank, River Dee in North Wales.   The vessel had been berthed alongside in Mostyn Harbour when the mooring lines parted in 60 knot winds. She then drifted onto a sandbank.   Hugh Shaw, Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention , said:   "Attempts have been made to re-float the vessel using two tugs, and this afternoon the bow of the vessel has moved but the stern is still stuck.   "There is another high tide tomorrow afternoon which will provide an opportunity to move her to deeper water. "We are closely monitoring the situation, but as there is no evidence of damage to the hull, the risk of p

COASTGUARD RESCUE TEAMS HELP POLICE AS STORM FORCE WINDS BATTER THE WESTERN ISLES

Coastguard Rescue Teams have been called out this evening to assist Northern Constabulary in closing the causeways between North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay as storm force westerly winds coincide with very high tides.   Using their 4x4 vehicles, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Griminish, Benbecula and Lochboisdale worked with police units to close off flooded roads and causeways until conditions abated.   At 8pm this evening Hebrides Range on the West side of South Uist recorded south westerly winds of 57 mph gusting 84 mph. The winds were combined with driving rain, coastal sea spray and some roads awash with the tide.   Carol Collins, Watch Manager at Stornoway Coastguard, said:   "This stormy atlantic weather has been well forecast over the last few days with an amber weather alert issued by the Met Office for the area, and a flood alert issued for the Western Isles by SEPA.     "In these poor conditions, we ask that the p

SEARCH FOR OVERDUE FISHING VESSEL OFF SOUTH DEVON COAST

A search is underway tonight for a fishing boat that has yet to return to Torquay. Brixham Coastguard is coordinating the search for the 19ft fishing boat 'J.C.K.' which is red in colour with an outboard motor. It was due back at around 7pm this evening. It was last seen passing Thatcher Rock at approximately 6.25pm. The following units are currently involved in the search; Torbay and Berry Head Coastguard Rescue Teams, Torbay RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats, Exmouth and Teignmouth RNLI lifeboats, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Portland, and the search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. There are another three vessels in the area currently assisting. The weather conditions this evening have been gale force, south westerly winds 24 mph gusting 58 mph. Peter Davies, Rescue Centre Manager at Brixham Coastguard, said: “We are currently carrying out an extensive land, air and sea search. We are doing everything we can to locate 'J.C.

SAFETY ADVICE AFTER BABY RESCUED FROM WATCHET HARBOUR

Her Majesty’s Coastguard is again warning people to take extra care when walking along the coast. The advice comes after a six-month-old baby boy was rescued from the water at Watchet Harbour in Somerset yesterday morning (Sunday 27th January). It’s believed his pram was blown into the water by a gust of wind. Ex-Coastguard Rescue Officer George Reeder jumped in and managed to rescue the baby. The Watchet Coastguard Rescue Team then took over CPR. The baby was flown to hospital where it’s reported he’s no longer in a life-threatening condition. Dave Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Coastguard says: “I would first of all like to praise the actions of all those involved in this rescue, including our Coastguard Rescue Officers and a member of the public who applied CPR to this baby boy. "We always ask people to make sure they take extra care when walking along the water’s edge. They need to take all the necessary precautions to ensure they and their group stay safe

TWO CREW ESCAPE FROM FISHING VESSEL FIRE OFF SALTFLEET HAVEN

Two crew escaped from their 11-metre fishing vessel ‘Hunter’ after it caught fire off Saltfleet Haven, near Mablethorpe. Yarmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call at 18.51 from the crew of two brothers after they had taken to the life raft. The Coastguard immediately asked the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat from Mablethorpe and the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Mablethorpe and Donna Nook to go to the scene. Yarmouth Coastguard also broadcast an alert to shipping in the area asking them to assist. The two crew were rescued from their life raft by the Mablethorpe Inshore Lifeboat and brought them back to shore where they received medical attention. Both were later reported to be well. The ‘Hunter’ has been left high and dry on a sand bank by the falling tide. She is still burning and being monitored by Donna Nook Coastguard Rescue Team. It’s believed that the Fishing Vessel ‘Hunter’ was around one nautical mile off Saltfleet, heading out to sea, when she developed en

HUMBER TO TAKE OVER NIGHT TIME COORDINATION FOR GREAT YARMOUTH MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE (MRCC)

Great Yarmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) is changing to daytime only operations from 4 March 2013 . This means that responsibility for its area of operation, from Haile Sand Fort to Southwold, will be taken over by Humber MRCC between the hours of 8pm to 8am . Humber MRCC already has the technical links, operational familiarity and training to be able to coordinate maritime search and rescue effectively in this area in preparation for the closure Great Yarmouth MRCC on 1 May 2013 .   Humber has been operationally ‘paired’ with Yarmouth for several years, and staff at Humber have acquired significant operational and geographical knowledge of the Great Yarmouth area. This change is necessary because of reducing staff numbers at  Yarmouth . Normally Yarmouth MRCC has a complement of 25 but leading up to its closure on 1 May 2013 this has reduced to only 16 watch keepers.   The closure in May is part of the planned programme for a national network of a Maritime

A LIFEJACKET COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE, EVEN WHEN YOUR BOAT’S IN HARBOUR

Humber Coastguard is reminding all boats users that lifejackets are useless unless worn after coordinating the rescue of a woman at Hartlepool this evening.   At 6.40 pm, Humber Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public who was walking by Hartlepool Marina and could hear a woman screaming for help. Providing a commentary of events unfolding, the man pinpointed the exact location of the woman who had fallen from her boat into the water as it was alongside on its berth.   Members of the public had tried to rescue the woman without success and so the lock keeper launched his boat to assist with recovery. Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team also attended along with personnel from Hartlepool RNLI.   By the time that she was rescued, the woman had been in the water for over 20 minutes. She had tripped over a cleat on deck and fallen overboard. She had not been wearing a lifejacket. The woman was recovered by the lock keeper and taken to hospital by the No

SUPER-YACHT BUILDER ACHIEVES TOP SAFETY STANDARDS

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has formally issued Sunseeker International Limited with an International Safety Management (ISM) Document of Compliance, demonstrating an excellent commitment to the highest standards of operation and safety. Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the MCA, presented Sunseeker with the certificate at the London Boat Show yesterday afternoon (16 January). Sunseeker is the first super-yacht builder in the UK to be issued with this document and it shows that their safety management system meets the demanding mandatory requirements laid out within the ISM Code. Sir Alan said: “The MCA has worked closely with Sunseeker for more than a year to bring the trials and testing procedures of a UK super-yacht constructor and operator up to the international standard of the ISM Code. “The ISM Code is only mandatory for vessels over 500gt, therefore Sunseeker’s voluntary compliance shows exceptional dedication to achieving the highest opera

MILFORD HAVEN COASTGUARD CO-ORDINATE DOUBLE CLIFF RESCUE

This evening Milford Haven Coastguard received a call from Dyfed Powys Police regarding two climbers who had fallen at the well known climbing area, Mother Careys, Lydstep, Nr Tenby Milford Haven Coastguard sent Coastguard rescue teams from Tenby and St Governs to the scene. The South Pembrokeshire Sector Manager also attended. The RAF Rescue helicopter from Chivenor was scrambled to airlift the more seriously injured casualty to Morriston Hospital and the Tenby all weather lifeboat was launched to recover the second casualty from the cliff bottom where the tide was rising. The lifeboat was met at Tenby harbour by a waiting ambulance. Milford Haven Coastguard Watch Manager, Bob Peel said: We have no firm details as to why this incident occured this evening, the conditions in the area are currently not bad. I would however, urge even experienced cliff walkers and climbers to be cautious in these areas, especially after rainfall like we had earlier today

STORNOWAY COASTGUARD CLIFF RESCUE

Stornoway Coastguard sucessfully co-ordinated a cliff rescue this afternoon on the Isle of Lewis, after a man tending his sheep fell over a cliff edge at Swordale on the Eye Peninsula. Stornoway Coastguard sent Coastguard rescue teams from Stornoway and Ness to the scene. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Stornoway was scrambled and the Stornoway all weather lifeboat was also launched to assist in the Search and Rescue operation. The male casualty was located and airlifted to the Western Isles hospital where he is currently being treated. Murdo Macaulay, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager said: "This incident highlights the dangers involved in walking or working near cliff edges, particularly in wet or windy weather. We would urge people to exercise extreme caution in these areas."

UPDATE: TUG AND TOW VESSELS OFF TORBAY

The tug Christos XXII, damaged after the vessel it was towing collided into its side off Torbay yesterday, is now stable with risk of pollution very low. Attention has now turned to the towed vessel, an ex German Naval training ship the Emssttrom, which had been listing too heavily for salvors to get onboard. This vessel has now sunk, approximately 2.5 nautical miles east by north from Hope’s Nose, Torquay in 23 metres of water. This ship is empty and is not a pollution risk.

CREW RESCUED FROM DAMAGED TUG BOAT OFF TORBAY

Eight crew members have been taken off a tug boat a mile off Hope’s Nose, Torbay after it began taking on water when it was struck by a vessel it was towing. Brixham Coastguard has been coordinating the rescue operation after the collision happened just after 7pm on Sunday (13 January). The RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene, along with the local harbour tug from Brixham, the Royal Navy vessels HMS Lancaster and HMS Severn, the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor and the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team. Efforts are now being made to keep the tug afloat with a salvage crew from the Royal Navy on board, and pumps in use to try to control the water level. UPDATE: 04:50 Monday 14 January Water level on the tug is beginning to fall. More equipment is on its way, including generators and pumps. Divers may be brought on scene later this morning to try to fix the damage. UPDATE: 07:20 Monday 14 January RNLI and

GROUP RESCUED FROM NORFOLK CLIFFTOP AFTER BECOMING LOST

Two women, a teenager and a young child have been rescued from a cliff in North Norfolk this evening. Yarmouth Coastguard received a 999 call just after 8.30pm from a friend of the group, who said they’d become lost while out walking their dog somewhere near West Runton. Four Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to the scene, including Cromer, Sheringham, Happisburgh and Mundesley, along with the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Cromer. After a thorough search, and with the tide coming in, the group were eventually located by Cromer inshore lifeboat and assisted off the beach by Cromer Coastguard Rescue team. They were then checked over by an ambulance crew and taken to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital for further assessment. Chris Attree , Duty Watch Manager at Yarmouth Coastguard said: “We would always advise people to check the tide times before setting out to make sure they don’t put themselves at risk of being cut off. “We would also ask that people don’t take risks by going

SEARCH FOR MAN OVERBOARD STOOD DOWN UNTIL FIRST LIGHT

The search for a missing male near the Torpoint Ferry Slipway, Cornwall has currently been stood down and will be resumed at first light this morning. Brixham Coastguard received a Mayday distress call from the Torpoint Ferry at 9.12pm on New Years Eve reporting a man overboard. David Colmer, Duty Watch Manager at Brixham Coastguard, said: An extensive search of the area which involved the following units; Plymouth RNLI Lifeboat, Plymouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, Ministry of Defence Police Launch and two Police RHIBs, Tamar Coastguard, Fire Service, Devon & Cornwall Police, Police divers and Police Helicopter.  Unfortunately the male could not be found but the search will resume at first light this morning.