GREAT YARMOUTH MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE CLOSES

Great Yarmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) will close on 1 May 2013.

There will be no reduction in front line rescue resources, which remain unchanged by the modernisation of HM Coastguard. The availability of Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats, rescue helicopters and other rescue facilities in the area will be wholly unaffected.

When Great Yarmouth MRCC closes, full operational responsibility will transfer to Humber MRCC. The MRCC at Walton-on-the-Naze, known as Thames Coastguard, will act in support of Humber MRCC.

Chief Coastguard Peter Dymond said:
“Safety is our top priority and I am confident that the same high quality search and rescue service will be maintained throughout. There will be no reduction in front line rescue resources.

“The availability of lifeboats, rescue helicopters, Coastguard Rescue Teams and other rescue facilities in the area will be unaffected.

'I am very grateful to the staff at Yarmouth Coastguard, who have served this region and the local communities here with great dedication and professionalism over many years. I am delighted that several of them are planning to stay with HM Coastguard in new roles, in different locations around the UK'

Emergency Calls:
Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard to report a maritime or coastal emergency and the 999 operator will transfer the call to the appropriate Coastguard Rescue Coordination Centre.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors
  1. Media interviews with Peter Dymond, Chief Coastguard are available between 2pm and 5pm on Tuesday 30 April.
  2. A You Tube video of Sir Alan Massey talking about the modernisation of HM Coastguard can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb3vIp7W6X8&list=UUkkLH0iFBTozmviH4jLkGOA&index=5 
Alternatively, a short MP3 audio clip of Peter Dymond is available upon request.

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