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Showing posts from January, 2015

SEARCH ONGOING FOR MAN WASHED OUT TO SEA AT PORT WILLIAM

Falmouth Coastguard is currently coordinating the search for a 51 year old man last seen at Port William on the north Cornish Coast. The man had been spreading ashes when a large wave washed him into the sea. Two other members of the group that he was with went into the sea in an attempt to rescue him but were unsuccessful. Falmouth Coastguard scrambled a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor, two coastguard rescue teams from Boscastle and Port Isaac began a shoreline search and the Padstow RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch. Neil Oliver Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager says “We have now been searching for 4 hours and sadly the man has not been found yet. The helicopter and lifeboats have now completed their searches but the two coastguard rescue teams continue their search. Conditions this evening have been unfavourable with gale force winds and rough seas.”

YOUTH RESCUED FROM CLIFFS AT SEWERBY, EAST YORKSHIRE

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A seventeen year old who went after his dog after it had gone over a cliff edge had to be rescued himself. Humber Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre received a 999 call from the youth’s mother at 3.15pm on 29 th  January to say he was stuck on cliffs at Sewerby, close to the MRCC. His mother said he had tried to rescue their dog which had gone over the cliff edge. The dog had made its own way back, leaving the 17 year old stuck on an icy ledge. Humber Coastguard immediately sent the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bridlington and Filey to the scene to assess the situation. On arrival the Coastguard Rescue officers made the decision that the quickest and safest method of rescue would be by helicopter so the RAF Rescue Helicopter based at Leconfield rescued the youth from the cliff. Watch Manager Mike Puplett said ‘This was a well executed rescue and was resolved quickly. ‘However my message once again is for dog owners to keep their pets on a lead when they are close

UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR OVERDUE FISHING VESSEL

The Search and Rescue operation looking for the missing fishing vessel which had been fishing in the Dover Strait is being co-ordinated by the French coast guard as it is now in their territorial waters. Dover Coastguard was initially alerted to the missing vessel on the afternoon of 28th January. The search is now concentrated on an area four miles from the French coast. Any further involvement of the UK authorities will be at the request of the French coast guard.

SEARCH SUSPENDED FOR MISSING FISHING VESSEL

The search for a missing fishing vessel has been suspended for today. Two bodies believed to be two of the missing crew have been recovered from the search area. The joint search and rescue operation between Dover coastguard and the French maritime authorities had continued for most of today. The search is now in French territorial waters. Vessels in the area will be asked to remain vigilant and to report any sightings. Four crew were on board the vessel which was first reported missing yesterday (28th) afternoon. 

UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR OVERDUE FISHING VESSEL

The search continues this morning for a missing fishing vessel which had been fishing in the Dover Strait. Dover Coastguard was alerted to the disappearance yesterday afternoon. Four crew were known to be onboard. An RAF helicopter is searching the area along with a French maritime aircraft. Two all-weather lifeboats from Dungeness and Dover are on the scene. A number of Belgian and Dutch fishing vessels remain on the scene in the area, looking out for any sign of their missing colleagues.  The weather conditions on scene remain challenging.

SEARCH IN CHANNEL FOR OVERDUE FISHING VESSEL

This afternoon Dover Coastguard was alerted to a missing fishing vessel which had been fishing in the Dover Strait. The vessel is known to have four crew on board. A Coastguard Rescue helicopter is searching an area in the South East of the Channel, two all-weather lifeboats from Dungeness and Dover are on scene and a French Search and Rescue helicopter has also been supporting the search effort. The Coastguard has notified other vessels in the surrounding area to remain vigilant and contact them if they locate anything. The weather conditions on scene are very challenging, with rough seas and gale force winds.

SEARCH FOR MISSING WINDSURFER

HM Coastguard is coordinating a search for a missing windsurfer this evening near the mouth of the River Lune, Lancashire, after receiving a report at 4.30pm that four windsurfers had been out and three had made it back to shore but a fourth man in the group had not.   The windsurfer disappeared in foggy conditions near to the entrance to the River Lune, at the south end of Morecambe Bay.  The search involves Knott End and Morecambe Coastguard Rescue Teams, Fleetwood and Morecambe Bay RNLI lifeboats, an RNLI operated hover craft and the rescue helicopter from RAF Valley.  Police and mountain rescue have also helped with the search. The search area now covers a large area including the sand banks between the Lune and Fleetwood.

DINGHY RESCUE IN SOUTHAMPTON WATER

At 12.24 today Coastguards at the National Maritime Operations Centre received a VHF radio broadcast from a yacht which had seen a dinghy capsize in Southampton water.  Hamble Independent Lifeboat was asked to attend.  The Southampton Harbour patrol vessel was also on scene very quickly and reported to the Coastguard that they had recovered three people safely on board.  The Red Funnel ferry nearby deployed a fast response boat to attend to the floating dinghy, which may have presented a danger to other vessels. The three people were taken to Netley Sailing Club and checked by an ambulance crew and found to be cold but uninjured. Notes to Editors For further information please contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office on 02380 329401. You can also find us on Twitter @MCA_media

HOEGH OSAKA - FINAL UPDATE 23 JAN 2015

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The Hoegh Osaka ran aground on the Bramble Bank on Saturday 3 rd January 2015. Yesterday, at 1415 hrs, the Heogh Osaka moved from her position in Alpha anchorage towards the port of Southampton.  This was slightly ahead of schedule because the ship’s crew managed to lift the anchor quicker than planned.  The vessel was safely delivered to Berth 101 in the Port of Southampton, four hours later, at 1815hrs . The Heogh Osaka is now safely on its berth at Southampton Port. The salvors are currently in charge of the vessel and working to transfer responsibility for the ship back to its owners. Once the ship is safely transferred back to the owners SOSREP will have no further involvement.  

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 22 JAN 2015

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The vessel list is now at 5 degrees. This means that the vessel will now move from Alpha Anchorage at 1545 (approximately). It will be turned in the right direction. The Hoegh Osaka is scheduled to arrive at Berth 101 in Southampton Port at 1900 (approximately). During the towing operation to bring the HOEGH OSAKA in to Southampton Port, a Restricted Airspace (Temporary) (RAT) will be placed 1 mile either side of the navigation route and up to 2000 ft. This is designed to provide essential safety during the towing operation. There will also be an exclusion zone around the vessel itself of 1,000 metres ahead and behind and 100m either side.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 21 JAN 15

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The vessel is stable on Aplha Anchorage and the salvage operation is ongoing. At 10: 30 today the list had been reduced to 25 degrees. All water has been removed from the car decks and it is anticipated that ballast operations will further reduce the list to 15 - 20 degrees today. At this point  MAIB investigators will board the ship to gather information for their investigation. A skeleton ship’s crew will also board the ship in preparation for its move back to Southampton Port.  The exact time for the ship to move from Alpha Anchorage to Southampton Port has not finally de termined when the conditions are right to do so, e.g. confidence in the ship’s stability, ship’s systems have been started up successfully, time of tide, wave and weather conditions. The journey is expected to take four hours. Four tugs will help bring the ship in and the salvor will be assisted by two pilots and the ship's master. The attached document shows the route the vessel will take and the timings for

HOEGH OSAKA - MEDIA BRIEFING MCA HQ 21/01/15 12:30

FOR JOURNALISTS ONLY Media only are invited to attend a media briefing about the vessel "Hoegh Osaka" at 12.30pm Wednesday 21 Jan 2015 at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency HQ, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Rd, Southampton SO15 1EG. Hugh Shaw the Secretary of State's Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention, will outline the Salvage Operation Plan for the next 24-48 hours and include the details of the vessels return to port. Please note there is limited space and no car parking is available. A daily update will be published after the briefing. Please contact MCA Press Office on 023 8032 9401 and leave your details if you wish to attend.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 20 JAN 15

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Salvage work continues. The list of the vessel is reducing (the photo shows the vessel lying at 39 degrees on the evening of Monday 19 th  January 2015. It was originally lying at 52 degrees). The weather on scene continues to be favourable and the operation to remove clean water from the vessel’s lower car decks continues. The vessel will stay at Aplha Anchorage until the list has been reduced to around 15 degrees, some ship’s systems have been reinstated and weather conditions are suitable. The long range weather forecast is now indicating that it is  unlikely  that the Hoegh Osaka will be moved from Alpha Anchorage to a berth at Southampton Port on Wednesday (21 st  January 2015). A further update will be issued tomorrow

FIVE AIRLIFTED FROM SEA

The Coastguard was notified of a fishing vessel in distress just before 11am this morning. The Iuda Naofa, a 23m Irish fishing vessel, was taking on water 48 miles north of the Butt of Lewis. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter was requested to attend the scene and drop a salvage pump onto the Iuda Naofa to pump off the ingress of water. However, the vessel became swamped and started to sink. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter airlifted two of the crew onto the nearby sister fishing vessel, the Star of Hope. The other three crew were transferred by helicopter to the Western Isles hospital, where they are being treated for mild hypothermia. Coastguard Duty Watch Manager, Paul Tunstall said “The weather conditions on scene were very rough seas with southerly force 6 winds, evacuating the five crew swiftly and safely before the vessel went down was a great achievement.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 19 JAN 15

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The Secretary of State’s Representative for Intervention and Salvage (SOSREP) visited the site of the Hoegh Osaka yesterday to view operations, which are progressing well. The weather has been favourable and is forecast to remain so, although the salvors are still working in challenging conditions. De-watering operations finished at 11.30 today. Preparations are underway to begin the operation to pump the water that remains in the car decks into the empty fuel tanks on the ship. The list is now at 47 degrees and we expect it to improve slowly over the coming hours in accordance with the plan. Salvors plan  to move the Hoegh Osaka to Southampton Port later this week, possibly late on Wednesday or early on Thursday. Notes to editors A notice to airmen / air exclusion zone around the ship is in place of 1 mile around and 2000ft high to facilitate helicopter operations. Credit photos to Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 18 JAN 15

The ship continues to be stable and, at this point in the salvors ongoing operations, the ship continues to list at 48 degrees. Yesterday the operation to pump water from the vessel’s lower car decks removed approximately 800 tons of clean water. The operation will continue today but progress will be slower as divers have to reposition the pump to ensure only clean water is discharged. The operation is going well, nevertheless the Hoegh Osaka is unlikely to be moved to Southampton Port before Wednesday. We will issue a further update tomorrow.

KAYAK OWNER FOUND

The owner of the kayak reported to the Coastguard this afternoon has contacted the National Maritime Coordination Centre. Thanks to all who looked at our earlier post.

DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS KAYAK?

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This kayak was reported to HM Coastguard at 12.30pm today. It was found at Hengistbury Head, Dorset. Do you know who owns it? Did you abandon it? If you have any information please call the National Maritime Operations Centre on 023 9255 2100

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 17 JAN 15

The ship continues to be stable and the salvors ongoing ballasting operations have now reduced the list to 48 degrees. The divers yesterday successfully carried out a limited inspection of the Hoegh Osaka’s hull. This inspection indicated that there is no significant damage. The operation to pump water from the vessel’s lower car deck started at 11am today. We will issue a further update tomorrow.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 16 JAN 15

Winds in the Solent around the Hoegh Osaka reached 60 knots last night. She was held secure by the tugs. The salvors are aboard the vessel adjusting the ballast system and hope to start pumping water from the car decks over the next 24 hours. If the good weather continues to allow the salvors to work we will hope there will be a reduction in the list of the vessel over the next few days. Divers are hoping to carry out an inspection of the hull today. We will issue a further update tomorrow.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 15 JAN 15

The Hoegh Osaka held overnight. Later today salvors will go on board the vessel via helicopter and boat. They will carry out some pump testing and may begin some internal ballasting operations. The weather tonight will be windy again, however the forecast from tomorrow will be favourable, meaning that salvors can press on with operations. Discussions are underway regarding arrangements for bringing the vessel into port.

HOEGH OSAKA - DAILY UPDATE 14 JAN 15

The vessel remains held in position at anchor on the Alpha Anchorage. The weather forecast for tonight remains high winds. All precautions are in place to hold the ship during this period. Current expectations are that the weather will permit salvage work to be progressed over the weekend. The salvor’s helicopter is now on scene. A temporary danger area or air exclusion zone around the ship has been established of 1 mile around and 2000ft high to facilitate helicopter operations. No diving took place yesterday, but there was more progress in testing the water pumps deployed on the ship and its ballast system. We will issue a further update tomorrow.

NINE FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING DECEMBER 2014

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that nine foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during December 2014 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. During December, there were four new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Five vessels remained under detention from previous months and five vessels were released during December.  A total of four vessels remain under detention at the end of December. 1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month. 2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are