HM Coastguard

  HM Coastguard has launched its latest ‘Coast Clever’ summer safety campaign to remind people how to stay safe and avoid the dangers and hazards at the coast. HM Coastguard's new ‘Coast Clever’ summer safety campaign includes a new film with singer and comedian Arthur Hill, who finds out that it’s not funny to get cut off by the tide or caught out on cliffs.  The campaign addresses four common risks at the coast;   Tidal cut off; being surrounded by the sea when the tide comes in  Offshore winds; winds that blow you from the land out to sea   Stuck in mud; being trapped in mud or soft sand   Cliff slips and falls   The short Coast Clever film follows comedian Arthur as he takes up an invitation from HM Coastguard to discover for himself how to stay safe on the coast. He meets a coastguard rescue officer on a small pebbly beach at the base of a cliff. The scenario was that the tide was coming in and if he were cut off, he would need to be rescued. He bravely accepted the challenge

  Welcome back to Meet Your Coastguard! Today we’re in Lancashire on the Fylde Coast with the Fleetwood Coastguard Rescue team. With its Victorian heritage, trams and lighthouse, the town of Fleetwood in Lancashire is often a top pick for UK getaways.   But despite the peaceful and idyllic setting, the town’s Coastguard Rescue Team of 15 officers and five new recruits sees some incredibly challenging and busy summer days, according to Coastguard Rescue Officers Alan Dickins and Steve Tilling.   Why did you join HM Coastguard?  Alan joined the Coastguard to give something back to a community that was very welcoming to a newcomer from the south. Steve’s lived in Fleetwood all his life and wanted to get to know his coastline a bit better, whilst helping to keep it safe.  What do you enjoy most about being a member of the team?  Alan enjoys the comradery, banter and being able to rely upon the team at any time, and Steve agrees, adding that there’s a fantastic spirit that comes in a team t

  Meet Your Coastguards takes us around the United Kingdom, meeting the everyday volunteers that do extraordinary work to keep our coastline safe.     The coastal town of Crosby lies within the Merseyside area of Liverpool, with stirring sea views giving way to artist Sir Antony Gormley’s installation artwork and the Seaforth windfarm.    The Crosby Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) covers the wider Merseyside area, from Formby to Warrington, and includes 11 Coastguard Rescue Officers, a Station Officer, and a Deputy Station Officer.   We spoke to Crosby Station Officer Garry, and Coastguard Rescue Officers Phillip and Damien.  Why did you join HM Coastguard? Originally from Prestwich in Manchester, Coastguard Rescue Officer Damien says his hometown isn’t exactly known for its maritime connections. However, he’s been a UK-based scuba diver for almost 20 years and after moving to Crosby in 2017, it felt like a good way to give back to the community and become more involved in local events. “

  Wear a personal floatation device, wear a personal locator beacon, and have a phone in a waterproof pouch as an additional way of calling for help, are the key safety messages from a fisher who was rescued from the water. On 27 March 2023, Ashley Wright was fishing near Plymouth when his boat started to sink. Ashley was rescued as part of a coastguard response and is sharing his experience, to encourage fishers to be prepared and safe at sea, and know what to do in an emergency. Watch his story here:

  Volunteer coastguard rescue officers (CROs) who played their part in saving two young people swept into a cave on the Cornish coast were presented with an official thank you to mark the one-year anniversary of the extraordinary operation. Portreath and St Agnes Coastguard Rescue Teams (CRTs) were visited by the Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Virginia McVea, who praised them for their actions on 22 May 2023.  The alarm was raised that day by a 999 call at about 6.10pm with a report of two young adults caught by the tide on a rock 30 metres from the shore in Bassets Cove, near Portreath, before later becoming stuck in a cave.  Led by Senior Coastal Operations Officer Marc Thomas, the CROs soon arrived at the clifftop and tried to use rope and water rescue techniques but the swells were too severe.  A man was recovered from the water but a woman remained trapped. With CROs stationed by the cave mouth, repeated efforts were made to reach her by HM Coastguard searc

From successful rescue missions to working with their “second family”, members of HM Coastguard, from all over the UK, are celebrating their roles and experiences within the maritime industry. As part of International Day for Women in Maritime , they are also recognising the importance of more women joining the sector and its impact. International Day for Women in Maritime (18 May), is an opportunity to highlight the achievements of women in maritime, as well as identifying areas of improvement for gender equality. Bex Owen, Karen Mackenzie, Olivia Letchford and Molly Luke have been part of HM Coastguard for a number of years, and all believe this is a day worth marking. Not only to recognise how far the Coastguard and wider Maritime and Coastguard Agency has come, but to encourage more women to follow suit. Bex has been the Senior Coastal Operations Officer across the coast of south Wales for three years and, off the northeast coast of England, Molly is Station Officer for the