HM Coastguard

Stornoway Coastguard received the first of numerous 999 calls at 9.18 pm this evening reporting up to twelve red distress flares seen in the Sound of Barra between the Islands of South Uist and Barra. Coastguard rescue teams from Barra and Lochboisdale were sent to investigate and the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Stornoway was sent to the vicinity to search for people or vessels in distress. An urgency broadcast was made to seek assistance from vessels in the area and resulted in the Fishing Vessel Glenravel also proceeding to the scene. After further enquiries and investigation, it was discovered that the flares had been set off by revellers at a beach party at Eolaigearraidh, near Barra Airport. Martin Collins, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager, said “This was an extremely irresponsible action as it has resulted in several rescue units being called out for no good reason. Not only that but while assigned to search for the source of these flares, the rescue units we...

When a distress call is received at a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), the search and rescue mission coordinator will make decisions as to which rescue resource is the most appropriate to send. This takes into account many factors, including distance to the incident, time taken for the resource to arrive on scene, weather conditions, and the capability of the resource. In an incident off Great Yarmouth today, Humber MRCC was contacted by a dive vessel reporting that one of their divers had surfaced and was in difficulty. The incident occurred 17 miles offshore and the decision was made to send the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Wattisham as this was the quickest way to get the casualty to hospital. The Gorleston RNLI all-weather lifeboat was also requested to launch to assist with the transportation of the dive buddy, particularly in view of the distance offshore.

A French fishing vessel has run aground on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula.   Falmouth Coastguard was contacted by the vessel Scuderia just after 11pm last night (Wednesday 28 August) reporting that it had run aground at Lankidden Cove, between Cadgwith and Coverack on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula.   The Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the RNLI lifeboat from Lizard were sent to the scene. The lifeboat managed to attach a line to the Scuderia but with a falling tide it was not possible to refloat the vessel. There are 5 crew members on board, but no reported injuries. Damage to the vessel is believed to be slight with no indication of water ingress into the boat. Porthoustock CRT is on scene again this morning. Falmouth Coastguard is now liaising with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Counter Pollution and Salvage branch, along with other agencies, to monitor the situation. Another attempt to refloat the vessel will be made a...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that three foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during July 2013 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that although there were no new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in UK ports during July 2013, three vessels remained under detention from previous months. They remained under detention at the end of July. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last 12 months was 3% - a slight decrease from June’s 12 month rate. Two of the detained vessels were registered with a flag state listed on the Paris MOU white list. The other was unregistered.   SHIPS DETAINED IN July 2013. There were no new detentions in July. DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS Date and Place of detention: - 9 September 2011 Liverpool Vessel Name: - DYCKBURG GT: - 3,660 IMO No: - 9195913    ...

At 3.15 this afternoon Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted to a jet ski collision involving two adults near Porthmadoc, North Wales . Holyhead Coastguard scrambled the Criccieth Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene and requested the Criccieth RNLI lifeboat to attend. The RAF rescue helicopter and the North Wales air ambulance were also requested to attend the incident and airlift the casualties to Bangor hospital. The lady involved suffered severe leg injuries and the man on the other jet ski suffered head injuries. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is aware of the incident and at this time the North Wales Police are leading the investigation into what happened. Holyhead Coastguard Watch Manager, Jim Green said of the incident, “This is the second serious jet ski collision we have witnessed in the last week. We want the public to have fun on our beautiful beaches, but these are very powerful and dangerous machines. If you are considering taking one o...

At 6.30pm tonight the Shetland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was advised by the Air Rescue Coordination Centre that they had lost contact with a Super Puma helicopter with 18 people on board travelling from the Borgsten   Dolphin. to Sumburgh. The helicopter was two miles west of Sumburgh airport Shetland. Shetland Coastguard immediately requested helicopter assistance. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter based in Shetland, the RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth and two Bond helicopters proceeded to the scene along with the RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Aith and Lerwick At the present time 15 people have been accounted for and 3 people are still missing. The helicopters and lifeboats on scene are continuing to search. A specialist medical team has being flown out from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to Lerwick by the RAF helicopter from Lossiemouth. -Ends- Notes to Editors Follow us on Twitter. Find us at MCA_media

Swansea Coastguard is warning those enjoying the good weather on the beaches around the Gower Peninsula to watch out for incoming tides after three people were cut off this evening in two incidents on the coast in Wales. The first 999 call for help was received at just before 5pm by Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. A member of the public reported that a man was waving his arms to attract attention by Mumbles outer island. Swansea Coastguard sent Mumbles RNLI lifeboat and the Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene. The man was rescued by the lifeboat and taken to safety. The second call for help was received at just before a quarter to seven tonight when a man and young girl were reported to be cut off by the tide at Three Cliffs. The RNLI lifeboat from Mumbles and Horton were sent to the scene alongside the Oxwich Coastguard Rescue Team. The pair were rescued by the Horton lifeboat and taken to safety. Coastguard Watch Manager Dave Hughes said: “We have hi...

At  11:20pm  Sunday, Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team was tasked by Milford Haven Coastguard MRCC to respond to a Police report of a dog over the cliff at the Esplanade, Tenby. Tenby Coastguards arrived at the scene and located a five year border terrier cross some 30 feet down the cliff in undergrowth.  Rope Technician Kris Steele was lowered by the team to recover Taffy from the cliff and the team were able to reunite him with his owner.  They had been returning to their car when the evening’s firework display at Tenby harbour started.  Taffy broke his chain lead, bolted towards the Esplanade and it was some time before the group managed to locate him from his barking.  Not knowing who to contact for help, the group contacted the Police. Dave Miller, Sector Manger for  South Pembrokeshire  said: “Taffy’s owners sensibly decided not to attempt to rescue him, but to contact the emergency services. You should always ...

The owner of the dinghy has now been located ashore after being discharged from hospital. 

Humber Coastguard have put out an urgent appeal for the owner of a 7ft dinghy to contact them after an empty vessel was found 15 nautical miles to the east of Blyth, Northumbria. Humber Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was contacted by a vessel to say that they had found an empty 7ft dinghy at just after six o’clock tonight. They immediately broadcast a mayday message to vessels in the area asking them to keep a look out for anyone who might have fallen overboard. The RAF rescue helicopter from Boulmer and RNLI lifeboat from Tynemouth were sent to the scene whilst the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Blyth and Sunderland are search the coastline for vehicles that may have towed the dinghy with the volunteer life brigades from South Shields and Tynemouth. The vessel is described is a grey ‘Sea Go’ dinghy which, when found, had on board a hand held radio, red fuel tank, oars and a grey shopping basket full of fish.   Anyone who recognises the description of the vessel sho...

Portland Coastguard is reminding divers that they need to make their stops when surfacing after four divers were admitted to the recompression chamber at Poole in just one hour this afternoon. At just after one o’clock this afternoon Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was contacted by a dive boat to say that one of their divers had made a rapid ascent. The RNLI lifeboat based at Weymouth was sent to the scene and the diver was transferred from the lifeboat to the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Lee on Solent for rapid transfer to Poole. Here the helicopter was met by an ambulance, dive doctor and Poole Coastguard Rescue Team for a rapid transfer to the recompression chamber. Just fifteen minutes later Portland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was contacted by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) to say that the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Portland was being sent to Chepstow, Monmouthshire to fly three divers who were showing symptoms of ...

A female climber has been rescued after falling from cliffs at Walls Hill near Torquay. At 8.20pm Brixham Coastguard was alerted after a 32 year old lady had fallen at Walls Hill near Torquay, while climbing with a friend who called 999.   On arrival at the scene, Coastguards and lifeboat crew realised it was a very difficult location to extract an injured person from due to 150 foot high cliffs and the casualty resting upon a ledge approximately 20 feet from the base of the cliff below an overhang.     The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland along with Teignmouth and Torbay Coastguard Rescue Teams lowered officers and a paramedic down cliff lines.   Teignmouth RNLI lifeboat also landed a paramedic ashore to assist the casualty who was then stretchered onto the lifeboat and landed ashore near-by for transfer to hospital by ambulance. Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager Dave Scullion says,   “This was a complex operation involving m...

At  7:49am  on 14 August 2013, Thames MRCC picked up a continuous transmission on VHF channel 16, blocking the channel for others who may have been in distress.  Thames MRCC began investigations on the broadcast and found it was coming from the Sheerness area, and asking those nearby to check their radios to narrow down the search. As the transmission was moving, Thames Coastguard was able to track the progress of the unknown yacht as it moved into Dover MRCC’s area of responsibility.  Other ships in the area assisted and the transmission was identified as coming from a yacht off the coast from Margate ,  Kent .  A nearby tug blasted its horn at the yacht and was able to see people on deck, but was unable to make contact.  Another yacht nearby offered to help and was able to make direct contact and the transmission ceased around 1:00pm. Dover MRCC was then unable to make any contact with the yacht to find out if they were i...

HM Coastguard is reminding the public of the dangers of what lies beneath, after seven people were rescued from a rip current while swimming off a Gwynedd beach at the weekend. Holyhead Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was contacted just after 2.45pm on Sunday 11 August with reports that people were struggling in the water at Black Rock near Porthmadog. The Harlech and Criccieth Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to the scene, along with the Criccieth RNLI lifeboat and the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley . Six children and an adult were pulled from the water on to the lifeboat, and taken ashore were they were met and looked after by Coastguard Rescue Officers. The adult and a six-year-old boy were treated for the effects of the cold on scene, before being taken to hospital to be checked over. It’s one of five rescues already this month where Harlech and Criccieth Coastguard Rescue Teams have been called in to help people in difficulty in the wat...

At 7.40pm Stornoway Coastguard received a 999 call from a resident on the west coast of South Harris reporting that a family had got into difficulty swimming from the beach.   Tarbert Coastguard Rescue Team and the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway attended and airlifted the unconscious woman to Western Isles Hospital this evening.   The father and two of the children have been transferred to hospital by ambulance.   The family with their three sons were on holiday and were swimming from the beach at Traigh Mhor, near Scarista on the west coast of the island and they got into difficulty in the water.  

A 5-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl along with their grandfather have been rescued after becoming stuck on cliffs at Tor Bay, Gower. Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call just before 3.30pm this afternoon from a member of the public who spotted three people stuck on the Great Tor. The Rhossili, Mumbles and Oxwich Coastguard Rescue Teams along with the RAF search and rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor were sent to the scene. When rescue units arrived, they found all three stuck approximately 100ft up the cliff face. All were winched on board the helicopter and then transferred to the beach below where they were met and looked after by Coastguard Rescue Officers. None required any medical attention. David Jones, Watch Manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: “It appears that the two children were attempting to climb up the cliff face when they became stuck. Their grandfather then tried to help them, but he also found himself stranded as well. “We always urge people to s...

Six people have been taken to safety after becoming stranded at the foot of cliffs at Fair Head. Belfast Coastguard received a 999 call just before 3.30pm this afternoon with reports that a group of people were cut off on Grey Man’s Path at Fair Head. The Coleraine and Ballycastle Coastguard Rescue Teams, along with HM Coastguard’s Sector Manager for the area, were sent to the scene. The RNLI inshore lifeboat from Red Bay, the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service were also sent to assist. Coastguard Rescue Officers located the group and administered first aid to a man who reported feeling unwell. This man, along with two others, was then airlifted to Aldergrove while the other three were taken to Ballycastle by the lifeboat. Liam Colquhoun, Watch Manager at Belfast Coastguard said: "We want people to enjoy our beautiful coastline, but you need to make sure that you are properly equipped, particularly if you’re...

In the past three months, HM Coastguard has seen an increase in the number of calls about jet skis or personal water craft (PWC). From 1 May to 1 August 2013 , the number of incidents logged on HM Coastguard’s database totalled more than 150. These ranged from mechanical issues, running out of fuel or even concern that PWCs were too close to swimmers. In comparison to the same period last year, HM Coastguard recorded 95 incidents. Chris Turner, HM Coastguard’s National Liaison Officer for Jet Skis and PWCs, said: "It’s certainly an appealing activity to do during the summer months, but going out for a few hours on a PWC may not be as straight forward as you think. "You need to make sure you know how to operate these powerful machines. The last thing you want is to find yourself in the water after being thrown off. This is also why we always recommend that you wear a buoyancy aid and ensure you’re using a kill cord, so if you end up in the water, the engin...

Just before 9pm tonight Milford Haven Coastguard received a 999 emergency call reporting a 12 year old boy who had been cut off by the rising tide at Saundersfoot. The boy climbed up the cliff to avoid the rising water and tried to take shelter in undergrowth at Perrys Point , Saundersfoot. Milford Haven Coastguard requested the Tenby lifeboat to the area to locate the casualty. The weather conditions on scene deteriorated and the boy became stuck in the thick scrub. Windy conditions, complete darkness, low cloud and substantial vegetation prevented the possibility of a helicopter recovery so the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Tenby and St Govans used cliff rescue equipment to locate the boy and lower him safely to the lifeboat crew below, who were talking to and reassuring him throughout the rescue. Once securely onboard the lifeboat the boy was given a Kitkat and can of coke, and was cold but happy and none the worse for his ordeal. Roger Reed, Milford Haven Coastguard W...

Swansea Coastguard was alerted to a Mayday emergency call just after 6.50pm this evening from the vessel ‘Hedrik’ which had run aground after hitting an object in the water, and was listing and taking on water. Even though the Mayday received was faint, Swansea Coastguard located the stricken vessel in Instow, North Devon and requested the Appledore RNLI lifeboat to launch. A nearby yacht named ‘Flute’ and a Rescue Helicopter from RAF Chivenor also stood by to offer assistance if required. The lifeboat was on scene within 10 minutes of the Mayday being received and the three crew members on board were safely transferred to the lifeboat. Steve Matthews, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager said, “This was an incredibly fast and slick recovery operation. The crew members are safe and dry and we are currently assisting an effort to re-float this vessel using its salvage pump. Thank you to all teams involved”

Following an incident which took place today on the Norfolk Broads, Humber Coastguard are urging the public to wear lifejackets at all times when taking part in recreational activities on or near the water. Humber coastguard received a 999 call reporting that a 7year old girl had gone into the water, in the River Bure.   Her father had gone in immediately to recover her from the water.   A nearby passing cruiser the ‘Royal Light’ threw a life ring to the casualties. Humber Coastguard contacted the Broads Authority who sent their patrol boat, the ‘Spirit of Breydon’, to rescue the casualties. Who were then met by paramedics and transferred to hospital. Humber Coastguard Watch Manager Graham Dawson said, “It is the summer holidays and we want the public to enjoy the water.   However we strongly recommend that appropriate personal floatation devices such as lifejackets be worn at all times to avoid tragedy this summer”

A man has been rescued from the water after he was thrown from his rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) off the Island of Barra . Stornoway Coastguard received a 999 call just after midday today by a member of the public who spotted a man in difficulty. They reported he had been thrown from his RHIB which was out of control and circling around him in the water. The Barra Coastguard Rescue Team, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway, along with the Barra RNLI lifeboat were sent to the scene. Stornoway Coastguard also issued a Mayday relay broadcast for any vessels in the area at the time to assist. Two nearby vessels, yacht Borealis and STS Alba Endeavour, responded and reported that the RHIB had overturned but was still circling the man. Just after 12.30pm , the man was recovered to the lifeboat and brought back to shore. He didn’t require any further medical attention. Carol Collins, Watch Manager at Stornoway Coastguard, said: “Fortunately...

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) has been ratified by the UK . This new International Labour Organization (ILO) convention consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards in the maritime sector.  It sets minimum global standards for seafarers living and working conditions. It also reflects the valuable contribution of the ILO to global employment standards The ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention has been a lengthy process that involved a number of Government departments including DWP, FCO and BIS alongside extensive contributions from the UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International, the RMT union and other stakeholders. It presented us with the opportunity to update legislation. The UK has 1,383 vessels on its register totalling 16.57 million gross tonnage. There are approximately 89,000 seafarers working on UK flagged ships and more than 24,100 UK nationals work as seafarers .   The UK’s adoption has be...

Just after 7pm this evening Falmouth Coastguard received a 999 call reporting five persons in difficulties having been caught in a rip current at Mawgan Porth, north of Newquay, Cornwall. The group from one family included a father and four children who were overcome by the waves and the rip current. With the surf reported to be four to five feet and the river that flows into the sea being heavy with flood water, the rip current was very strong. No lifeguards are on duty at that time of the evening.   Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT), both Newquay RNLI lifeboats and the rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose were all immediately tasked to the incident. The Ambulance service was also informed of the incident.   Before the rescue units arrived on scene, the mother of the family had rescued her nine year old daughter, and a local surfer, in an outstanding effort against considerable surf and current, rescued a fourteen year old boy. Further out the father had managed to push hi...