HM Coastguard

Former HM Coastguard rescue officer Carol Lutkins, who has received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours, has had a long-term interest in swimming, water safety and helping young people. Carol, who served with Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue team for 21 years left the service on 30 November 2017, to pursue other interests and volunteering opportunities. She says she wanted children to enjoy swimming, but also to know the dangers of water, working with them helping them to understand how to act responsibly when playing in it and near it, but to also have the necessary skills and knowledge to get out of trouble if they get into difficulties. Carol Lutkins, now MBE, recently receiving her long service medal Carol said: ‘I’ve enjoyed my time with HM Coastguard immensely – I’ve made many friends but am proud to have played a small part in saving lives at sea. ‘Whatever I do in the future I am sure it will include a continued passion to ensure that all those...

Anchors raised and vessel 'Mekhanik Yartsev' is now on route to King George V Graving Dock in Southampton Harbour. Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat, a tug, pilot vessel and patrol boat are keeping a watchful eye over its passage to keep everyone safe. Expected arrival time is approximately midday. Further updates will be posted when it arrives alongside.

HM Coastguard is currently assisting a Russian flagged vessel that has a significant list just outside Portsmouth Harbour.    Although the vessel has developed a considerable list, it has power and is currently stable.  The vessel is at anchor in the Solent and a pilot vessel is assessing the vessel’s stability and cargo.  The 13 crew onboard are reported to be safe and well. HM Coastguard is currently issuing navigational safety broadcasts every half hour to warn shipping in the area and a tug and an All Weather Lifeboat are standing by on scene. The weather forecast is poor with severe gales and rough seas expected later today.  Discussions are underway with the owners of the vessel and the vessel’s agent. The SOSREP, HM Coastguard Commander, Duty Surveyor, Counter Pollution, Receiver of Wreck, Southampton Harbour Master and Portsmouth Duty Queen’s Harbour Master have all been informed of the incident.  Further updates will be issue...

Whilst some of us were eating leftovers from Christmas, HM Coastguard and the  Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team  were rescuing two cragfast climbers from a precarious ledge on Crib Goch, Snowdonia. Just after 2pm today,  North Wales Police  requested air support from HM Coastguard's Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) for two cragfast walkers on Crib Goch, Snowdonia. The walkers were not properly equipped for the terrain but thankfully had sustained no injuries.  Due to  the walkers precarious position, the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon flew in three members of the Llanberis MRT to secure the walkers with ropes before the helicopter could attempt to winch them.  Once the casualties were safely onboard they were airlifted to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team base. The Coastguard helicopter the returned to pick up the three Mountain Rescue Team members who we must say had done an extraordinary job - all ...

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published a revised safety code for passenger ships operating on inland waters. This major publication has been developed with the support of the industry which has welcomed the new edition of the code. Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) 1823 Edition 2 is the safety Code for new passenger ships operating on what are known as categorised waters – eg canals, tidal and non-tidal rivers, lakes and some estuary waters. It has improved on the original MS N for inland passenger ships, which was introduced in 2010. Like its predecessor though, it takes the one-stop-shop approach covering the construction, equipment and operational requirements of these ships.  Edition 2 links the safety requirements more closely to the levels of risk likely to be faced by a given ship in its authorised operating environment. Joanna Dormon, principal passenger ships standards manager, said, ‘This new edition means we now have a focused and proportionate safety r...

Christmas came early for a lobster fisherman who found himself snagged on his lobster pots between Boulmer Village and Seaton Point earlier today. His vessel overturned, and he ended up in the water. The Coastguard were alerted immediately and sent Howick Coastguard Rescue Team, the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Humberside, Craster RNLI, Amble RNLI and the North East ambulance to the scene. Jolene Smith, Senior Maritime Operations Officer from Humber Coastguard said, The first informant on scene knew the fisherman, and informed us of exactly what had happened. We were able to get a lifeboat on scene immediately to pick up the casualty. The rescue took all of about 20 minutes which is a great result because at this time of year the water is extremely cold. If you do see anyone in trouble at the coast call 999 and ask for the coastguard. You can do this even if you have no credit on your phone or if the phone is locked.

Just before 3pm on Friday 15 December, North Wales Police requested air support from HM Coastguard's Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) for a cragfast walker on the eastern ridge of Crib Goch, Snowdonia. The walker was above the snow line and not properly equipped for the weather or the terrain. Despite the low cloud cover, the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon managed to find a brief break in the cloud and flew in quickly to pick up the walker - in fact winching him up in a rescue effort that lasted barely over a minute! Once the casualty was safely onboard he was airlifted to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team base where he was checked over. Thankfully, despite being cold he did not require any medical treatment. Remember to be prepared, ‘think safety first’ and don't put yourself in any unnecessary danger if venturing into the Welsh or Scottish mountains. You should also tell a friend or family of their intention...

Yesterday afternoon, just before 5.30pm , HM Coastguard received a Pan Pan VHF Radio broadcast from the ‘MV FAME’ reporting that it had engine failure and was drifting 1.2 nm offshore the Isle of Lewis in a SSW direction. Despite battling Force 8-10 winds and a swell of up to 6-8 metres, the five crew onboard managed to deployed both anchors to try and stop the vessel from grounding  whilst it waited for the Lifeboats to arrive on scene. The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway and  the RNLI Stornoway and Leverburgh All Weather lifeboats were sent to the scene to provide immediate assistance.  The Coastguard helicopter was ready to evacuate crew if necessary but the vessel drifted clear of rocks. The MCA’s Emergency Towing Vessel ‘Ievoli Black’ was also tasked from her patrol area to the location at full speed. Leverburgh Lifeboat was stood down early this morning, however the Stornoway Lifeboat still remains on scene to provide as...

A fisherman with over 40 years experience has been sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to offences under the Merchant Shipping Act. Michael Kinnaird, had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges at Plymouth magistrates court on 6 December, which related to an incident on October. It was shortly after 8.45pm on 7 October 2017, that Mr Kinnaird’s vessel, a 21metre trawler FV Algrie left its moorings at Sutton Harbour. It then continued out of the harbour entrance but did not alter course into the shipping channel. Instead, the FV Algrie kept a steady course at seven knots before running aground at Mountbatten Breakwater. None of the five crew on board was injured and there was no reported pollution as a result. Minor damage was caused to the vessel and it was recovered back to its moorings on the next high tide. When interviewed by MCA Enforcement Officers, Mr Kinnaird said he had navigated into and out of the harbour hundreds of time...