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Showing posts from May, 2013

Unusual rope rescue for Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team

Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team carried out an unusual rope rescue in Penryn this afternoon. Working with Fire & Rescue and Ambulance they rescued a man trapped in scrap metal on the trailer of an articulated lorry.

EMERGENCY AT THE COAST? MEET YOUR RESCUERS

For people trapped on cliffs, stuck in the mud, cut off by the tide or lost along our coastline, Coastguard Rescue Teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.   The 3,500 men and women who make up the Coastguard Rescue Service are trained and equipped to respond to a wide-range of emergencies at a moment’s notice. Last year, they were involved in 8,997 incidents.   There are 352 Coastguard Rescue Teams based around the entire coastline of the UK . They are a valued rescue resource of Her Majesty’s Coastguard and are called out to coastal emergencies by a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in response to 999 calls or other alerts.   With Volunteers' Week fast approaching (1 – 7 June), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is paying tribute to its Coastguard Rescue Officers.   Peter Dymond, Chief Coastguard, said:   "I am extremely proud of my volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers and I recognise the valuable contribution they make to H

SEARCH IN MID CHANNEL

A lifeboat and a rescue helicopter have been searching overnight after a ferry passenger spotted what looked like a person in the water mid channel. At 10.45pm on Sunday, Brixham Coastguard was contacted by a passenger who had travelled on the ferry Armorique from Roscoff in France to Plymouth .   At around 7pm and mid way across the channel (30 miles south of Plymouth ), he told crew that he had spotted a person in the water.   A visual search of the surrounding water was made while the vessel was underway and crew were unable to see the person in the water. Brixham Coastguard coordinated a search and the Royal Navy rescue helicopter from Culdrose and Salcombe RNLI lifeboat have been searching the area mid channel over Sunday night.   Other vessels in the area including the fishing vessel Katrina and research vessel Cefas Endeavour also helped with the search. The search located a balloon and a fishing marker float in the search area and the search ended this morning wit

COASTGUARDS FROM RHUM AND SKYE RESCUE INJURED WALKER

At 9:30pm on Saturday, the coastguard rescue helicopter from Stornoway was sent to rescue a lady who had collapsed and was struggling to remain conscious on the Isle of Rhum. Unfortunately, when the rescue helicopter reached the island, the weather had closed in and the cloud cover was too low to fly in to locate the casualty. The Rhum Coastguard Rescue Team started to walk in to the lady’s position while the rescue helicopter returned to Skye to refuel and to collect the Portree Coastguard Rescue Team to help with the evacuation of the lady. Rhum and Portree Coastguards made their way to the injured lady on foot and found her conscious but very cold and unable to walk. They made her comfortable and placed her in a stretcher ready for extraction. Carrying the stretcher through Harris Glen towards the coast, they were able to get the lady to a location suitable for the rescue helicopter to fly to meet them as the weather lifted. The casualty was then transported to Hospital in

PASSENGER VESSEL EVACUATED OFF PEMBROKESHIRE COAST

At 12.55pm today Milford Haven Coastguard received a mayday call from the passenger vessel Lady Helen, with 48 people on board reporting that they had run aground near Skomer Island and were taking in water.  Milford Haven Coastguard contacted other vessels in the area by radio and requested Angle and St Davids RNLI lifeboats to attend and the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor. The passengers were evacuated to other vessels and have been transferred to shore safely where they were met by Broadhaven and Dale Coastguard Rescue Teams. There were no injuries to passengers or crew. The casualty vessel Lady Helen was re-floated and pumps have been put aboard to control the ingress of water.  The vessel has gone undertow to Martins Haven. 

BRITISH MAN RESCUED AFTER FALLING OVERBOARD FROM YACHT OFF FRENCH COAST

A man has been rescued after falling overboard from a yacht off the coast of Ushant in France. Brixham Coastguard received a 999 call just after 3pm this afternoon reporting that one of the two people on board the yacht had been washed overboard by a large wave. The French search and rescue authorities coordinated the rescue, with Brixham Coastguard assisting by keeping in regular contact with the man still on board the yacht and the French authorities. A search involving a French lifeboat, two search and rescue helicopters, a fixed-wing aircraft, along with two Navy ships, one from France and another from Germany, that both happened to be in the area at the time. The French lifeboat managed to locate the yacht and escorted it back to Ushant with the one remaining crew member on board. After a search of the area, the other crew member was found by the German ship and from there was airlifted to hospital in France believed to be suffering from hypothermia. He was wearing

DO YOU WEAR A LIFEJACKET WHEN YOU ARE TRANSFERRING TO YOUR YACHT/MOTORBOAT IN A TENDER?

Wearing a lifejacket might have saved the lives of at least 4 people transferring to their boats using tenders in 2012. And in the last 6 years, at least 10 might have been saved if they had worn one. Of the 4 incidents reviewed in 2012 all the tenders capsized. In one incident in February, a man was going out to his boat moored offshore to travel to a friend's vessel which was having engine trouble. He was on his own in his rowing boat when the vessel capsized. Despite an extensive search he was not found - divers later located his body. He might have survived had he been wearing a lifejacket which would have kept him afloat and his head out of the water, even if he had been unconscious. Most sailors and motor boaters recognise the importance of wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid when they are onboard their boats. But do you wear one when you are transferring to your vessel in a tender? Who has compiled these statistics? These figures have been compiled by an expert panel revie

WHY SHOULD I WEAR A LIFEJACKET OR BUOYANCY AID WHEN I'M ANGLING?

The lives of at least nine anglers (of which seven were shore-based) may have been saved in 2012, had they been wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. And in the last six years, at least 41 might have been saved if they had worn some form of buoyancy. Last year, a 15 year old boy died after being washed off rocks during an angling expedition. His 21 year old brother tried in vain to save him, battling to keep him afloat whilst rescuers raced towards him. Eventually the 21 year old had to let his young brother go as he realised that there was nothing that he could do to save him. Both brothers might have survived had they been wearing lifejackets which would have kept them afloat and their heads out of the water, even if they had been unconscious. Most anglers recognise the importance of wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid when they are onboard a small boat. But do you wear one when you're fishing from rocks? In 2012, five of the seven shore anglers who might have been saved had th

136 PEOPLE MIGHT BE ALIVE TODAY IF THEY HAD WORN A LIFEJACKET OR BUOYANCY AID

136 people's lives may have been saved during the last six years if they had been wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. These figures, which cover coastal areas only, have been compiled by a panel of experts who are committed to water safety. 2012 Overview Of the 45 fatalities considered appropriate for review for the calendar year 2012, the Casualty Panel agreed that in 20 cases a lifejacket or buoyancy aid would "probably" or "possibly" have saved a person's life. These 20 fatalities cover a range of activities. For the purpose of a general overview, the following statistics will focus on gender, age, location and time of day. There were 19 male fatalities and one female (95% male). 75% of the fatalities were aged 19 or over and three out of the four child fatalities came from one incident. 15 of the 20 people involved were not wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. The 5 other fatalities were considered in 3 separate incidents where buoyancy aids or lifej

WHY SHOULD I WEAR A LIFEJACKET OR BUOYANCY AID WHEN I'M CANOEING OR KAYAKING?

Wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid might have saved the lives of at least four canoeists and two kayak-anglers in 2012. And in the last six years, at least 18 might have been saved if they had worn one. Last year, a father lost his 5 year old daughter, his best friend and his 2 children in a canoeing incident on a Scottish loch. The craft overturned and one of the men and an eight year old girl managed to swim to shore to alert the Coastguard. The children were wearing buoyancy aids, the fathers were not. Would you wear a buoyancy aid if you were going canoeing on a day out with the children? With summer quickly approaching, the sharp rise in the popularity of this sport and the cheapness and availability of getting hold of equipment, an incident like this could easily happen again. Make sure you have all the right equipment and are properly trained for the activity you are undertaking, particularly if this is the first time you are trying the sport. To find out how you should prep

SEARCH FOR MISSING FERRY PASSENGER OFF DOVER

A search is underway this morning for a missing ferry passenger who was last seen mid-Channel. Dover Coastguard was contacted just after 1am this morning to reports of a man overboard from a ferry traveling from Calais to Dover. The RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Dover was sent to the scene, and was assisted by a Royal Navy warship that was in the area at the time. The search and rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham was also sent to the scene. Dover Coastguard is currently coordinating the search involving the lifeboat and the Royal Navy vessel, which is still ongoing at this time. Kent Police have been informed. UPDATE: 05:55 Tuesday 21st May As much of the search area as possible has been investigated by units on scene. Search stood down.  

PASSENGER SHIP AGROUND IN OBAN BAY

A passenger ship has this evening run aground in Oban Bay. Stornoway Coastguard was alerted at 6.30pm this evening and was told that the ship had ran aground on sand and gravel. There are no reported injuries, no reported pollution and no signs of water ingress. An attempt will be made at high tide this evening to re-float the vessel. High tide is expected at 11.30pm. The RNLI lifeboat from Oban is on standby to assist if needed. The Oban Sector Manager and the Oban Coastguard Rescue Team are also on scene. UPDATE: 22:15 Monday 20th May Wind north west force 3 (8-12mph). No swell. UPDATE: 22:50 Monday 20th May Ship 'Serenissima' departed Ireland and was heading for Oban. 61 passengers and 51 crew on board. Still no reported injuries, pollution or water ingress. UPDATE: 23:45 Monday 20th May Efforts to re-float the ship are ongoing. UPDATE: 01:45 Tuesday 21st May The Serenissima was successfully re-floated at 1.10am and is now anchored in Oban

DON'T DRINK AND DROWN

Humber Coastguard are issuing a strong safety message after tragedy was narrowly avoided on the Lincolnshire coast in the early hours of this morning.   At 04am, a 999 call was received from a male on the beach at Chapel St Leonards. The male explained he was with a female who had decided to take her clothes off and run into the sea, near to the Golden Palm Resort. After losing sight of her, he entered the water along with another male in their party, but after almost 20 minutes of searching, she could not be found.   Chapel St Leonards Coastguard Rescue Team and Skegness Inshore Lifeboat were alerted to assist, along with the Search and Rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield. A tractor driver, working on the beach, also witnessed the event unfolding and went to the aid of the two men, who by now were both were very cold and distressed. Taking over the call to the Coastguard, the tractor driver gave a running commentary of events and prevented anyone from returning to the water.

COASTGUARD RESCUE OFFICERS IN MUD RESCUE TRAINING AT RHYL

After two incidents in two days over the May Day bank holiday, Rhyl and Flint Coastguard Rescue Teams have been taking part in a mud training exercise. The Coastguard Rescue Officers last night worked alongside the Rhyl RNLI inshore lifeboat and the lifeguards from Denbighshire County Council to put into practice their skills for rescuing those who get stuck in mud. It comes after Coastguard Rescue Officers were called out to a person stuck in the mud near the River Clwyd on Sunday 5 May and again on Bank Holiday Monday at Rhyl. In both incidents, those involved were unhurt. Richard Furneaux, HM Coastguard Sector Manager for Clwyd, said: “Luckily over the Bank Holiday weekend, those two that had become stuck in mud managed to free themselves and weren’t injured. But it does go to show the dangers of mud in the area, and the need for regular training to ensure we are well prepared to respond whenever we’re paged. “We always advise if you do become stuck in mud to tr

SEABIRDS CONTAMINATION: LATEST STATEMENT

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is continuing with its efforts to identify the source of the PIB that contaminated seabirds off the south west coast. Samples of the product, including some from feathers of the affected birds, were taken from various locations. These samples were passed to Plymouth University and the MCA requested an analysis to be carried out. Since those tests confirmed the product was PIB, the MCA has been collecting data of the ships that passed through the area during a specific time frame, and has been looking through detailed cargo manifests. The number of tankers currently being investigated further stands at seven. If the MCA can locate any ship that was responsible for an illegal discharge then we will take steps to prosecute.

TEN FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING APRIL 2013

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that ten foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during April 2013 after failing Port State Control ( PSC ) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were four new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in UK ports during April 2013 and six vessels remained under detention from previous months. Three vessels remained under detention at the end of April. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 3.56%. This is slightly up from March’s twelve month rate. Out of the detained vessels eight were registered with a flag state listed on the Paris MOU white list, one was registered with a flag state on the grey list, none were registered with a flag state on the black list, one was unregistered and none were registered with a flag state that was not included on the Paris MOU white, grey or black lists. 1. In response to one of the recommendations of L

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BOAT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER BEFORE YOU SET TO SEA SAY COASTGUARD

Swansea Coastguard is reminding boat owners to ensure that their vessel is properly maintained and in good working order after a lifeboat was launched to the same motorboat twice in a day. At 2.20 am this morning the 21ft motor vessel called Swansea Coastguard to request assistance as they had suffered engine failure in the mouth of the River Rhymney. Penarth RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch and towed the vessel and its three crew back into Cardiff Barrage. At 5.00 pm this evening Swansea Coastguard received phone calls expressing concern that the same vessel had put back to sea with two people on board. However, it was now operating on its 5hp auxiliary engine. A short while later the same vessel called the Coastguard to request assistance. They were drifting and the small engine did not have enough power to get them safely back to shore in the 25-30 knot westerly winds. The Penarth RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch again, whilst Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team ke

FISHING VESSEL SKIPPER PROSECUTED FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN A PROPER LOOKOUT

A fishing vessel skipper has been made to pay £925 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to failing to keep a proper lookout and leaving the wheelhouse unattended. On Wednesday morning 7 June 2012 the fishing vessel Elegant II sailed from Campbeltown towards fishing grounds off the Kintyre Peninsula . At around 9.30, the vessel grounded approximately one mile south of Davaar Island . The skipper, 58-year-old Ferguson Hughes, had previously reported problems with the automatic pilot and received spare parts in the form of bushes for the steering motor which he fitted while alongside in Campbeltown. After sailing the problem recurred and Mr. Hughes went to the engine room to adjust the new bushes. While he was doing this, the vessel grounded. A mayday call was relayed and the fishing vessel Argent went to his assistance. The grounding occurred on a shallow shelving beach and as the tide was falling, the Argent too went aground. The weather was good and the Argent came

OWNERS OF FISHING VESSEL PLEAD GUILTY TO FAILING TO ENSURE CREW HOLD APPROPRIATE SAFETY CERTIFICATES.

During a fishing trip in the Irish Sea on 27 th January 2012 , the United Kingdom registered fishing vessel Zenith, port letters B470 was hauling nets, when Andrius Kalinda (now known to be Nikolai Nedoliz) fell into the sea and was drowned. None of the crew was wearing life jackets at the time. The MCA investigation found that two crew members including the deceased did not hold all of the required safety training certificates. Two of the crew held no safety training certificates at all. The owners of the vessel, John More (57) and David Campbell (50) pleaded guilty at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Wednesday 8 th May 2013 to breaching the Fishing Vessels (Safety Training) Regulations 1989 section 2 and each was fined £1,250.00 plus £75.00 costs. On summing up the Magistrate said: you had a serious responsibility to the crew to ensure that they were properly trained. Captain Bill Bennett Area Operations Manager (Survey and Inspection) Northern Ireland for the

UK SHIP REGISTER RETAINS US COAST GUARD QUALSHIP 21 AWARD

The UK Ship Register has been recognised by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for their excellent Port State Control record, listing them as one of the few shipping flag administrations to retain the prestigious Qualship 21 for 2013. This award reduces the likelihood that UK ships will be targeted for inspection by US Port State Control inspectors. Head of the UK Ship Register Debasis Mazumdar said: “Thanks to the high standards applied by the MCA’s Marine Surveyors, ships registered in the UK will less likely be targeted for surprise inspection by US Port State Control inspectors. This will give continued support and a commercial advantage to the ships registered to us. “Qualship 21 is a demanding quality standard for shipping set by the United States Coastguard. This is a great achievement for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and shows the high quality of ships registered to us.” -Ends- Notes to Editors: Qualship 21 is the USCG’s matrix system of

STATEMENT: PADSTOW SPEEDBOAT INCIDENT

Falmouth Coastguard was first contacted at 15.48 this afternoon reporting that six people had been thrown from a speedboat approximately 1/2 mile off Padstow in the Camel Estuary. It was reported by members of the public that the boat was out of control and had struck a number of those in the water.   The RNLI lifeboats from Rock, Padstow and Port Isaac along with the search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose and RMB Chivenor were sent to the scene. St. Merryn, Newquay and Polzeath Coastguard Rescue Teams have also been involved.   We do not believe at this time any other vessels, kayaks or people were involved in this incident, other than those that had fallen from the speedboat.

SAFETY REMINDER AFTER DIVERS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL OFF SOUTH WEST COAST

Two divers have been taken to hospital this afternoon after both made rapid ascents from dives off the south west coast. In the first incident, Brixham Coastguard was contacted just after 11.30am this morning by a dive boat at Hands Deep off Plymouth. It was reported that one of their divers had done a rapid ascent from 27 metres. The Plymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat was sent to the scene and evacuated the casualty along with his dive buddy. They were then transferred to Derriford Hospital. The Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Team was also sent to assist. In the second incident, Brixham Coastguard was contacted just before midday by a dive boat 3 nautical miles off Chapel Point, Cornwall. A diver had also done a rapid ascent. The search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was sent to the scene and airlifted the diver to the Diving Diseases Research Centre in Plymouth for treatment. The Mevagissey and Plymouth Coastguard Rescue Teams were also in attendance. Andre Huber, Wa

WOMAN RESCUED AFTER FALLING OVERBOARD FROM YACHT OFF SOUTH WALES

A woman has been rescued after falling overboard from a yacht 8.5 nautical miles south of Barry Dock. The skipper of the 35ft yacht used Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio to alert Swansea Coastguard, quickly followed by a voice MAYDAY message just after 7am this morning reporting that the other member of his crew had fallen overboard. The woman was struggling to get back on board, but she was wearing a lifejacket and was attached to the boat. The RNLI Barry Dock all-weather lifeboat along with the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor was sent to the scene. The woman was pulled out of the water by the helicopter and was flown to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where the Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team had attended the helicopter landing site to assist. The Barry Island Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the harbour to assist in the berthing of the yacht and help recover equipment. David Jones, Duty Watch Manager, Swansea Coastguard sa