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Showing posts from September, 2014

PORT COMPANY FINED £650,000 FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY BREACHES

A port operator has today (Monday 29 September) pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches, following the deaths of three crew members of a tug which capsized on the River Clyde in 2007. Clydeport Operations Ltd, who were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh, received fines totalling £650,000. In December 2007 the Flying Phantom was one of three tugs assisting the 70,000-tonne cargo ship Red Jasmine as it made its way along the River Clyde. As they approached the Erskine Bridge, the Flying Phantom was secured to the bow of the Red Jasmine , which was transporting animal feed. Just before 6pm, in thick fog, the Flying Phantom called the ship to say they had grounded and the pilot instructed the tug to let go the line. That was the last communication. The line came taut and the tug was pulled over and capsized – a situation known as “girting”. The tug’s master, Stephen Humphreys, 33, chief engineer, Robert Cameron, 65, and rating, Eric Blackley, 57, lost their li

MCA CHIEF UNDERLINES IMPORTANCE OF SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY

The importance of the superyacht industry to the United Kingdom economy was the theme of a keynote speech delivered by the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Sir Alan Massey, to leading yacht builders, operators and owners this week. Sir Alan was at the Monaco Yacht Show, representing the UK’s Shipping Minister, John Hayes.  Also in the UK contingent were Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Paris and representatives of the UK Chamber of Shipping, together with the industry body, Superyacht UK. The MCA is a world leader in maritime administration and the originator of the Large Commercial Yacht Code, LY3, which covers safety for yachts that are more than 24-metres in length. Ensign, the MCA’s large yacht services division, offers sector-leading advice and guidance in areas including the LY3 code, the Maritime Labour Convention and Seafarers’ Standards. Opening his presentation, Sir Alan highlighted “the commitment and continued support the industry receives fro

HER MAJESTY’S COASTGUARD

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The way the Coastguard delivers the coordination of search and rescue operations on our coast and out at sea is changing. The modernisation programme will see the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) and 10 other Coastguard Operation Centres around the UK operate as an integrated network managing workload on a national basis. This means in a search and rescue operation there will be a much bigger and better support network available nationally to help Coastguards who may be dealing with multiple incidents at once. National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) The public won’t notice any difference. If you call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, or issue a mayday broadcast, there will still be someone there to help. There will be no reduction in rescue resources either. The Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats, rescue helicopters and other rescue units that are sent out to help you will be unaffected. At the heart of this new set up is the NMOC based in Hampshire. After mont

TOO MANY PASSENGERS LANDS FERRY COMPANY IN COURT

Carrying numbers of passengers, including schoolchildren, far in excess of its license, has cost representatives of a Hampshire ferry company fines and costs totalling £12,340. At Portsmouth Magistrates Court today (Tuesday 23 September) the master, operator and owner of the ferry, Tina Maria, were each charged with four counts of sailing without a valid passenger certificate, and two charges of sailing with insufficient liferafts onboard. All three pleaded guilty to all charges, which were brought by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Tina Maria is an 11-metre long, single-engined boat used as a ferry between Hayling Island and Eastney, across the entrance to Langstone Harbour.  The vessel is certified to carry 12 passengers and two crew. On four occasions in January and February of this year the boat, which is operated by Hayling Ferry Ltd, landed between 16 and 27 passengers at Hayling Island; in all cases the majority of passengers were children returning home from schoo

BARGE OPERATOR FINED FOR RELEASING DANGEROUS GAS

The operator of a Portsmouth-based barge has today been made to pay almost £111,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to a breach of maritime legislation. Serco Ltd admitted an  offence a t Portsmouth Crown Court in relation to the health and safety of workers aboard the barge 1706, which is operated as part of a service contract with the Ministry of Defence. The primary function of the barge is to collect waste products from naval vessels when they were moored in Portsmouth. On the 6 July 2011, barge 1706 was secured alongside a warship at Portsmouth Naval Base and was taking waste water from the vessel. A short while later, the crew started to smell the distinctive 'rotten eggs' odour of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). A crewman collected the only personal gas detector on board and, as soon as he went on deck, the monitor alarmed at  57 parts per million (ppm)  – well above the prescribed danger limits of 5ppm (8 hour time-weighted average (TWA)) and 10ppm (1

COASTGUARDS SAVE WOMAN IN OVERTURNED CAR

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Coastguards Dave Edmunds and Steve Caddick are more used to saving lives at sea but on Sunday 21 September while on their way to deal with a call out, they arrived at the scene of a woman trapped upside in a car while on their way Runcorn Bridge.  Using their training the two Coastguards from Crosby instantly took charge. While Steve was checking the car and preparing the immediate response, Dave called Liverpool Coastguard to request assistance from the Police, Fire Service and Ambulance.  While dealing with the original callout, the Coastguards in the operations room at Liverpool then coordinated the other emergency services to the scene of the accident. As the car was full of smoke, Steve took the fire extinguisher from their vehicle, made his way to the car and as the engine was still running he was able to turn it off and used the extinguisher on the exposed engine which stopped the smoke.  All this while he was talking to the casualty and reassuring her that help was on

MAN MISSING OFF SUNDERLAND AFTER ATTEMPTED DOG RESCUE

An intensive search took place off Hendon Beach, near Sunderland, after Humber Coastguard received a call, at 4pm this afternoon, that a man and woman had entered the water, apparently to attempt to rescue a dog.  While the woman has been rescued and was helped by paramedics, the search for the man, who apparently went into the water to try  to save the woman - continued into the evening.  The dog is also believed to have made it ashore. The search and rescue helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer carried out a search using infra-red equipment; the Sunderland RNLI lifeboats were on scene and both the Sunderland and Seaham Coastguard Rescue Teams were also involved in the operation.  The Tyne Coastguard Sector Manager and police attended.  After a shore line search at low water after darkness the search will be suspended for the night.

THE ACTION OF 22 SEPTEMBER 1914, HMS ABOUKIR, HOGUE AND CRESSY

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Early on 22nd September 1914, HMS Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy were patrolling in the North Sea 60 miles off the Dutch coast, when they were attacked by U-Boat U9 and all were sunk with the loss of 1,459 lives. The ships’ complements were mainly reservists, called into service at the declaration of war. A number of the survivors were picked up by Dutch fishing vessels and a number of Dutchmen attended the commemoration event at Chatham Historic Dockyard this weekend.   The three cruisers were part of the Royal Navy’s 7th Cruiser Squadron. Their task was to protect ships in the North Sea which were carrying supplies between Britain and France. However, the ships were considered obsolete and were crewed largely by naval reservists. Because of the age and inexperience of the crews the Squadron was considered to be at high risk and had earned the nickname “the Live-Bait Squadron”. On 22nd September 1914, the three ships were on patrol. The Squadron’s flagship and its screen of dest

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

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This week we will be honouring those Coastguards who died during the First World War in the service of their country. At that time, Coastguards could be called upon by the Royal Navy as reservists and posted to ships due to their expertise in signalling.   Each year HM Coastguard sends a contingent of Coastguards from around the UK to the national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in London. HM Coastguard itself suffered considerable losses in the early months of the war, and following this, the Admiralty decided to return the majority of Coastguard personnel back to their stations.  For the remainder of the war, shore based Coastguards continued with their duties as well as manning War Signal Stations, undertaking dangerous and highly specialised disposal of mines and keeping a watch for spies or saboteurs who may have tried to land.  They also provided early warning of raids by German warships and assisted the police and army in rounding up suspects and escaped POWs.

HM COASTGUARD REMEMBERS

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will formally remember, at a service in Chatham on Monday, the Coastguard Officers who lost their lives when three Royal Navy cruisers were sunk by enemy action. The commemoration event at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on 22 September 2014 marks the 100 th anniversary of the loss of 1,459 men on board HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy . The vast majority of these men were Coastguard Officers. Joining His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent KG will be Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey KCB CBE, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Also representing HM Coastguard will be serving Coastguard Officers Mark Rodaway OBE, Geoff Matthews, Cindy Rodaway, Emma Gaston and James Way. The commemorations will start at 2pm with a ceremonial Drumhead Service. During this service the colours of HM Coastguard will be placed on the drumhead and HRH the Duke of Kent will unveil a plaque commemorating the loss of the three cruisers. -Ends- Fo

ENSIGN FLIES THE FLAG AT MONACO YACHT SHOW

Builders and owners of large yachts will learn more about Ensign, the sector-leading service offered by the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show from 24   to the 27   September 2014. Ensign, the Large Yacht Services division of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will be offering advice and guidance on the LY3 code, the Maritime Labour Convention and Seafarers’ Standards to industry, yacht owners and other visitors for the duration of the show. The MCA’s Chief Executive, Sir Alan Massey, will represent the UK Shipping Minister, John Hayes MP, at the event and will give a keynote presentation. The MCA is a world leader in maritime administration and the originator of the Large Commercial Yacht Code, LY3, which covers safety for yachts more than 24-metres in length. MCA surveyors and the Head of Seafarer Services and Ship Registration will also be on hand to answer any questions relating to current regulations and policies ac

MINISTER SEES COASTGUARD LIFE SAVERS IN WATER RESCUE ACTION

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Shipping Minister John Hayes visited Sutton Bridge Coastguard Rescue Team yesterday on his first official outing to a Coastguard base.    Sutton Bridge CRT with Shipping Minister John Hayes He saw rescue officers put their skills to test, demonstrating how they would rescue a person in difficulty in the water, from immediate rescue techniques to casualty recovery and care. Her Majesty's Coastguard is the emergency service responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue in the UK. One rescue resource often called into action is the Coastguard Rescue Teams. There are currently 347 teams around the UK, made up of more than 3,200 volunteers.  Chief Coastguard Richard Martin with Shipping Minister John Hayes Shipping Minister John Hayes MP said:  "Coastguards work around the clock to keep people safe in the water. They are volunteers and the lynchpin of their local communities.  "I am privileged to have seen firsthand their skilful, courageous wor

CONCERNS THAT ANGLER MAY BE MISSING FROM MUDEFORD

Coastguards have issued an appeal to an angler, who may have left their fishing gear on the beach near Mudeford Quay, Christchurch, to get in touch with them urgently. This morning, Dorset Police reported that some high quality fishing tackle had apparently been abandoned on the steeply shelving beach at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour – leading to concerns that the angler may have entered the water and got into difficulties. The equipment was discovered by a dog-walker at 6:30am. The Mudeford lifeboat, Southbourne Coastguard Rescue Team, the Lee-on-Solent search and rescue helicopter and the police have all been involved in a so far fruitless search. Watch Officer at Portland Coastguard, Becky Clarke, said:  “The fact that some expensive fishing tackle has simply been left on the beach has raised fears that an angler has possibly gone into the water. “We are appealing to anyone who thinks that they are this angler – or knows who it might be - to please get in

HUMBER COASTGUARD COORDINATING SEARCH AND RESCUE AFTER HELICOPTER CRASHES

Humber Coastguard are co-ordinating the search and rescue operation after a helicopter crashed into the sea, close to cliffs, off Flamborough Head Lighthouse. The aircraft is believed to have been returning to Humberside Airport when the incident occurred. The Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a call at 1340 this afternoon that a small helicopter had gone into the water below the cliff, between the lighthouse and Flamborough Head Golf Course. A coastguard officer was winched down to assess the crash site by the search and rescue helicopter from Leconfield.   Other rescue resources sent to the scene are:   Bridlington, Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay and Filey Coastguard Rescue Teams, the Scarborough Coastguard Sector Manager and the Bridlington and Flamborough lifeboats. The Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance and Humberside Police are also attending the incident.  The shoreside area around the scene has been cordoned to allow rescue effo

QUIZ THE COASTGUARD AT SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW

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The way the Coastguard coordinates search and rescue operations on our coast and out at sea is changing. A new national network of 10 coordination centres is being set up, with a new National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Hampshire at the heart. The public and sailors alike will now get the chance to learn more about the changes at this year’s Southampton Boat Show. Coastguards will be on stand J029 in Mayflower Hall from 12 – 21 September 2014. Tristam Newey, Coastguard Commander at the NMOC, said:  “Changes being made to the Coastguard will see a new national network which will be able to balance out the workload between all of our Coastguards around the country. This means they’ll be a much bigger and better support network able to step in and help out if one of our UK centres is dealing with multiple incidents.” More than 2,000 leisure craft have been helped by the Coastguard in the past year alone (1 September 2013 – 1 September 2014). The incidents rang

NATIONAL MARITIME OPERATIONS CENTRE COORDINATES FIRST RESCUE

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The National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) has coordinated its first rescue since the handover from Solent Coastguard. The process of transferring operations has been taking place this week and were completed today. This means the NMOC now looks after the patch of coastline from Beachy Head in East Sussex to the Hampshire / Dorset border. A Pan Pan message was picked up by the NMOC just after 3pm this afternoon. It was from a boat which had broken down to the east of Isle of Wight. An RNLI lifeboat from Selsey was sent to the scene and towed the vessel back to shore. For further details on the NMOC, please click here .

LUCKY ESCAPE FOR RIB TRIO

Three people and their dog had a lucky escape off Anglesey earlier today (Thursday 11 September) when they were thrown from a RIB which then circled them at high speed while they were in the water. The incident has underlined the need to use a kill-cord – the device that is attached to a RIB-driver and immediately shuts down the motor when the wearer moves away, or is thrown, from the cockpit. In the past, deaths and horrific injuries have been caused by the propellers of high-powered, out-of-control boats to people who have fallen out. In this case, the occupants managed to avoid the circling RIB and swim to nearby rocks at Rosneigr Beach . They were picked up by a boat and taken to the shore unscathed; the RIB was quickly brought under control. The RIB’s occupants told Holyhead Coastguards, who were alerted at 1230pm by the local surf shop, that the driver had removed the kill-cord to inspect a deflated buoyancy chamber and they had been thrown out of the craft when the thro

NEW NATIONAL COASTGUARD OPERATIONS CENTRE OPENS

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The new National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Hampshire becomes operational for the very first time this week. Operations from Solent Coastguard, which looks after Hampshire, Isle of Wight and parts of Sussex, are being transferred over from today. The handover of Portland Coastguard, which covers Dorset and East Devon, will start on Monday 15 September 2014.   The changes to Her Majesty’s Coastguard will see the NMOC and 10 other Coastguard Operation Centres around the UK work together to manage the workload. This means in a search and rescue incident there will be a much bigger and better support network available nationally. There will be no reduction in rescue resources. The availability of Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats, rescue helicopters and other rescue units will be unaffected. Mark Rodaway has moved across from Portland Coastguard and taken up a new role at the NMOC. He said: “The public won’t notice any difference to the way search and rescue missions are