HM Coastguard

A Cardiff sailing club and its Chief Instructor has today been made to pay £67,000 in fines and costs after failing to take proper care of children attending one of their courses. The Chief Instructor, Nicholas Sawyer has also been given 180 hours of Community Service. Penarth Motor Boat and Sailing Club, trading as Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, and its Chief Instructor Nicholas Sawyer pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to charges relating to failures in their duty of care for children attending a residential course in October 2010. The 4-day training course was attended by 24 girls aged between 10 and 14. On the evening of   27 October 2010 , after a day’s training, the girls were taken ice skating. On leaving the rink at   8pm   the girls boarded the 4 club RHIBs to take them across   Cardiff   Bay   back to their accommodation. It was dark and the RHIBs had no navigation lights, even though this is required by law. The children were not supplied wit...

The Coastguard and North Wales Police are reminding people of the dangers of jet skis and personal watercraft (PWC) ahead of what is hoped will be a busy summer in North Wales .  Last summer Holyhead Coastguard dealt with almost 35 incidents involving PWCs.  These ranged from mechanical issues, running out of fuel or even concern that PWCs were too close to shore or endangering swimmers.  In one incident a man and a woman suffered serious injuries after two jet skis collided near Porthmadog and over the same weekend a youngster in Abersoch sustained minor injuries after the kayak he was in was struck by a jet ski. Ray Carson, Rescue Coordination Centre Manager at Holyhead Coastguard, said:  "The majority of PWC users are responsible and often assist us during search and rescue incidents. However, during the summer months we do receive complaints that jet skis and PWCs have gone too fast and too close to shore. This is concerning to us as it’s pu...

As the weather warms up Swansea Coastguard are urging the public to check tide times following four entirely separate incidents today involving members of the public being cut off by the rising tide. Whilst on exercise earlier today, Burry Port RNLI lifeboat located two boys in difficulties, stranded on the rocks at Bluepool, Gower.  The lifeboat landed them ashore on the beach at Broughton bay. Swansea Coastguard then had a call concerning four members of the public cut off by the tide at Sully Island . The Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team and Penarth lifeboat were tasked to transfer the casualties ashore. Watchet Coastguard Rescue Team and Minehead RNLI lifeboat were the next teams to be tasked by Swansea Coastguard to assist two adults and two dogs that had become cut off by the tide near Grey Rock, Blue Anchor. They were all safely returned to the shore. Finally this afternoon Swansea Coastguard was contacted by the assistant Pier Master at Penarth Pier concerni...

Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public using the emergency telephone at Anvil Point Lighthouse to report a climber in difficulties over the cliff at Marmolata Buttress. The climbers had requested an ambulance but no further information was available. In view of the 35 metre height of the cliff, the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue was scrambled, Swanage RNLI Lifeboat launched and the Swanage Coastguard Rescue Team tasked. On arrival on scene, it was established that one of the climbers had suffered a fall and a suspected broken rib. He was therefore unable to climb back up the cliff. The Coastguard Helicopter Rescue, after preparing the casualty, airlifted him to the Poole Hospital Landing Site to be met by Poole Coastguard Rescue Officers and Ambulance for onward transportation to Poole Hospital . Swanage Lifeboat recovered their crewman who had also attended the casualty. Swanage Coastguards monitored a further three climbers until they were sa...

Humber Coastguard was alerted by Mayday emergency call last night just after 12.30, midnight, by the yacht ‘Trina’ which was in difficulties 5 miles South East of Berwick Upon Tweed. There was one man on board with no reported injuries. He had lost his navigation system and was partially swamped.  Humber Coastguard requested the RNLI Berwick Lifeboat to attend the scene. The ship ‘Prudence’ also in the area assisted the lifeboat in locating the yacht. The lifeboat then escorted the ‘Trina’ back to Berwick. Graham Dawson, Humber Coastguard Watch Manager said, “The skipper of the yacht ‘Trina’ had lost his navigation system and let off a number of emergency flares to help us locate his position. Unfortunately in doing so he had set fire to his lifejacket which resulted in him having to remove it. It is always important to check your position and re-check it. We also recommend that you join and keep up to date the voluntary CG66 safety identification scheme. Finally tell ...

"Her Majesty's Coastguard in the UK has liaised with the US Coast Guard closely throughout the intensive search and rescue operation. We are grateful for the professionalism and dedication that the US Coast Guard have shown throughout, and the extraordinary efforts they have made in this tragic case. We understand and support the extremely difficult operational decisions that the US Coast Guard is taking and the rigor with which they do so. Our focus is on the search tomorrow and our thoughts are with the families of the missing men at this time. “Separately we would urge owners of small craft not to venture into the area to conduct their own search operations taking into account the forecast decrease in weather conditions and the loss of two yachts in this region in the past fortnight."

Coastguards in the Norfolk and Suffolk broads are asking you to take selfies this summer. Families and groups heading for the seaside are being asked to take a photo on their mobile phone of everyone together at the start of their day out. It’s so that if anyone goes missing, there is an immediate resource that can be shared with all agencies should a search be necessary. Between 1 May and 31 August 2013, Coastguards in Norfolk and Suffolk were involved in more than 40 searches for missing people. Peter Byatt, Station Officer with the Lowestoft and Southwold Coastguard Rescue Teams, said: “It’s something most of us like to do when enjoying a day out at the coast, but taking a photograph may also help us find one of your group if they go missing. “It’s a useful tool that we can use to help in our search as we would have key information, such as what the person looked like and what they were last known to be wearing. “Remember, if you get into difficulty at the coast, or spot...

A massive air and sea search is taking place for two fishermen missing off  East Scotland . Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted by a member of the public around  noon  today that a 16ft fishing vessel was two hours overdue. The search is focusing on an area five miles between Gourdon and Todhead Point and two miles out to sea. The RAF search and rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth, Montrose all weather and inshore lifeboats,  Aberdeen  all-weather lifeboat, four local fishing vessels, and coastguard rescue teams from Montrose and  Carnoustie  are involved in the operation. Calum McNicol, Watch Officer at Aberdeen Coastguard, said: “We are carrying out an extensive search of an area covering ten square miles. “Rescue resources were quickly on scene and we have asked vessels in the area to help. “The sea conditions are moderate and visibility is poor, due to thick fog.” UPDATE: 20/05/2014 16.10 Search continues and has be...

Keith Oliver, Head of Maritime Operations with HM Coastguard, said: “Her Majesty’s Coastguard has been in regular contact with the US Coast Guard since this sad situation began to unfold in the early hours of Friday morning. “The Cheeki Rafiki is believed to have run into difficulty approximately 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts , USA . The US Coast Guard is responsible for search and rescue in this area. “Based on the information provided to us, we believe that the US Coast Guard has done all they can to locate the stricken yacht and her crew. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of these four sailors at this extremely difficult time.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that a body has been recovered from Lough Erne following the capsizing of a boat yesterday, Friday, 16 May . They have confirmed the name of the deceased as 20 year old Lee Rogers from the Enniskillen area.

A search is ongoing for a man missing in Lough Erne tonight after a boat with six people onboard overturned. Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call at 6.15pm from a member of the public, close to Portora Boat Club, Enniskillen. The caller reported that a rowing boat had capsized off the boat club. Two of the vessels for hire in the Lough had rescued five people but one is still missing. He is not believed to have been wearing a lifejacket. Enniskillen Coastguard Team were sent to the scene to search the shoreline whilst RNLI lifeboats based in Enniskillen and Carrybridge were sent to search the water. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter based at Sligo has also joined the search along with a PSNI boat. The five people recovered from the water where treated by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.   Gary Young Watch Manager said: " An extensive search is continuing at this time and weather conditions are favourable in the area."   ...

A man has been rescued off the West Wales coast today following a major fire on his boat. The 26ft pleasure boat is still ablaze 600 metres off Aberystwyth and Coastguards are asking all vessels in the area to stay a mile from it as a precaution. The vessel contains flares, some of which are going off at the scene, and a gas canister.  The RNLI Lifeboat from Aberystwyth is monitoring the situation and Aberystwyth Coastguard Rescue Team are also on standby on the shoreline to report any possible pollution and wreckage. The RNLI Inshore Lifeboat from Aberystwyth rescued the man around 10:30am and he was taken by ambulance to hospital in the town. Roger Reed, Watch Manager at Milford Haven Coastguard, said: “Resources were quickly on scene and the man isn’t believed to have suffered any serious injuries. “The boat is severely ablaze and there is a lot of smoke. We have put out a security broadcast advising other vessels in the area to stay well c...

A man’s had a lucky escape after being thrown from his speedboat in Teignmouth Quay. Brixham Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public just after 10am this morning, reporting that a man had been hurled into the water from his speedboat. The boat was then going round in circles and the man was trying to swim away to safety. The Teignmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and the Teignmouth RNLI inshore lifeboat were sent to the scene. The lifeboat crew managed to bring the boat under control by cutting the engine. The man had been picked up by another boat nearby and was brought ashore where he was met by Coastguard Rescue Officers. He’s since been taken to hospital to be checked over, but doesn’t appear to have been badly hurt. Andre Huber, Watch Manager at Brixham Coastguard, said: “It appears the man took off his kill cord as it was too short to allow him to tie up his boat. Unfortunately, he accidentally knocked the throttle, the boat jerked forward and he...

Two divers from Kent have today pleaded guilty to not declaring valuable items from shipwrecks off the UK coast.   David Knight and Edward Huzzey, both from Sandgate , admitted to 19 offences between them, contrary to section 236 and section 237 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Items were taken from shipwrecks off the Kent coast, with the first known objects removed in 2001. The shipwrecks targeted included German submarines from World War I and an unknown 200 year old wreck carrying English East India Company cargo. The items included eight bronze cannons, three propellers from German submarines, lead and tin ingots, along with various other artefacts. It’s thought the combined value of the items is worth more than £250,000. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is aware from diary entries that Knight and Huzzey used explosives and sophisticated cutting equipment to free wreck material. Sentencing has been scheduled for 2 July 2014. Alison Ken...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that twelve foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during April 2014 after failing Port State Control ( PSC ) inspection. During April, there were five new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in UK ports.  Seven vessels remained under detention from previous months.  Five vessels were released during April.  A total of seven vessels remain under detention at the end of April.  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...