HM Coastguard

HM Coastguard has been involved in coordinating a search and rescue operation today. The call came in just before 5am to which the Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter from Lydd, along with the Dover and Dungeness lifeboats were involved in the search off the Dover Straits. A vessel has been found and nine people rescued and taken on board the Dungeness all-weather lifeboat where they are currently being looked after by the crew.

What’s in a name? Do you know where to find your Nuncle Dicks or your Tom Tiddler's Field? Here’s half a million reasons why Ordnance Survey (OS)  is helping HM Coastguard save lives. A distress call comes in. HM Coastguard swings in to action, time is of the essence, but the chances that the caller has a grid reference, post code, road name or the official title of a landmark is by no means certain. However the caller might well know the local nickname or vernacular for the location and when that information can be accessed immediately, then vital minutes could be cut off the time to save lives. We’ve been working in partnership with OS using a technology which has helped Coastguard teams with more than 20,000 call outs last year alone. Now we can reference nearly 500 thousand coastal place names, which includes more than 6,000 local nicknames and vernaculars of landmarks along the coast of Great Britain; names which would rarely appear on a map or navigation device...

Search and rescue training has been carried out with the organisations and groups which are involved with putting it into practice in Anguilla. The training, given by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay included the principles of aeronautical and maritime search and rescue, how to recover a person from the water and search planning. It was also attended by Alison Leighton and Steve Horn (pictured standing) from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency as part of ongoing work sharing its expertise. The work is part of the MCA’s Maritime Obligations and Contingent Liability Risk Reduction Projection supported by the UK Government Conflict Stability and Security Fund.

A tug which lost propulsion while carrying out a tow, remains in detention after Maritime & Coastguard Agency surveyors found a number of deficiencies. The NAS Pathfinder is currently detained at Dover Harbour and will remain so until the deficiencies have been put right. On 13 January at 8pm, the Panamanian-registered tug reported to Dover Coastguard Operations Centre that it was having problems because of the failure of its propulsion system. Attempts to repair the vessel failed and three hours later another tug sailed from Dover to bring both the NAS Pathfinder and the tug it was towing, into the harbour. The NAS Pathfinder had been on a towing passage from Netherlands to Italy. MCA surveyors carried out a Port State Control inspection and found 17 deficiencies, 11 of which were detainable. The deficiencies included emergency fire pump not ready for use, excessive oily water in engine room bilges, no evidence of verification of passage plan by the master and no origin...

At first light on Saturday morning (20th Jan), the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Inverness carried out a dramatic rescue of two stranded ski tourers. The pair had spent the night without shelter at 3000ft after bad weather hampered rescue attempts. The two climbers called Police Scotland late on Friday (19 th Jan) reporting that they were stuck at Bidean Nam Bain, Glencoe. The Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team were unable to reach the climbers due to blizzard conditions. The stranded pair were located by the HM Coastguard helicopter just after 8:30 on saturday morning. They were found in a precarious position, next to a steep drop, before being winched onto the helicopter. Both casualties were taken to Torlundy, Fort William before being passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. We would advise people to ‘think safety first’ and don’t put yourself in any unnecessary danger if venturing into the Mountains. You should tell a friend or family m...

The search for two missing fishermen in Loch Fyne has been scaled back pending further information.   The 40ft fishing vessel the men were on capsized yesterday evening and despite the brave efforts of those on scene to keep it afloat, it subsequently sank.   A third crewman was able to raise the alarm to a passing vessel just after 6pm yesterday before being taken to hospital.   Despite an extensive and thorough shoreline, air and sea search involving the six Coastguard Rescue Teams, the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Prestwick, four RNLI Lifeboats, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland and several local commercial vessels, the two missing fishermen have not been found.   Julie-Anne Wood, Head of Maritime Operations for HM Coastguard said:  “Following an intensive search over the past 24 hours, utilising the HM Coastguard helicopter, RNLI Lifeboats, Coastguard Rescue Teams, other agencies and local ves...

HM Coastguard is planning to resume the search for two missing fishermen at around 8am this morning.    Campbeltown RNLI Lifeboat has been out all night and this morning joining a number of commercial vessels searching the area, sadly however, nothing has been found. Attempts were made last night with a remotely operated underwater vehicle to investigate the fishing vessel which has come to rest on the sea floor, however poor visibility hampered those efforts.      A number of Coastguard Rescue Teams and RNLI Lifeboats are expected to meet later this morning to rejoin the search in the Loch Fyne area.   The search is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.  

A large scale search and rescue operation is underway for two fishermen in Loch Fyne after their vessel capsized. Just after 6pm today HM Coastguard received a 999 call and a DSC distress alert from a fishing vessel in Loch Fyne reporting that they had recovered a fisherman from the water. The recovered casualty told his rescuers that his 40ft fishing vessel had capsized and there were two more casualties in the water. Tighnabruich, Arran and Campbeltown RNLI Lifeboats are on scene, alongside the HM Coastguard Prestwick helicopter and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Campbeltown, Dunoon, Tarbert, Kames, Inverary and Crinan.  Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service and several commercial vessels are also on scene assisting.  The casualty who was recovered from the water has now been transferred to hospital.  This incident is ongoing and further updates will be provided.    The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have be...

The skipper of a 14-metre day angling boat has been fined £4,500 with more than £7,000 costs after pleading guilty to offences which breach the small commercial vessel code of practice. The prosecution was brought by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency against Roger Lennon who was fined at Canterbury Magistrates Court today (16 Jan). Roger Lennon is the owner skipper of the vessel ‘Skerry Belle’ operating out of Ramsgate. Investigations by the MCA last year, revealed Lennon was operating the vessel on a commercial basis, taking members of the public out to sea on fishing trips, without having a commercially endorsed skippers’ certificate. The vessel was also operated on occasions during the hours of darkness, although the vessel did not possess the necessary certification to operate at night. Lennon pleaded guilty to not having a commercially endorsed skippers licence (expired) and running night trips in a vessel that was only certificated for daylight use. The magistrates in...

Copyright Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team Surviving freezing temperatures for three days, a walker missing since Sunday has been found alive after a huge joint rescue effort involving Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team and the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters. The walker was reported missing in the Scafell Pike area on Sunday evening and a large scale search and rescue operation was launched by the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.  Mountain Rescue Teams from Duddon, Furness and Keswick also joined the search that evening.   On Monday the search resumed with Mountain Rescue Teams from Wasdale, Kendal, Coniston, Penrith, Cockermouth and the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs.  The Prestwick Coastguard helicopter also joined the search on Monday with no success. The search resumed again this morning with teams from Wasdale, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen Duddon, RAF Mountain Rescue and Bowland Pennine.  There were dogs from the Lakes and as far awa...

With light fading fast late yesterday afternoon, the HM Coastguard Caernarfon helicopter completed a dramatic rescue of two cragfast climbers at Mount Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, Wales. Perched precariously on a steep cliff ledge, the two climbers called the North Wales Police​ and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation​ for help just before 4.30pm reporting that they'd been stuck since early morning.   Due to their difficult position, the HM Coastguard helicopter had to be called in.  They were winched onboard and taken to the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue base.  Thankfully both casualties were uninjured and required no medical treatment.

HM Coastguard is currently assisting Dorset Police in the search for missing teenager, Samuel White in the Portland area. Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI  Weymouth Lifeboat s are currently carrying out an extensive search in the area. Ian Guy, Duty Controller for HM Coastguard said: ‘We understand the concerns of members of the public, especially family members and teenagers, who want to help the emergency services with the search operation. However, the c oastal environment can be very high risk, especially as nightfall approaches and we would ask people not to conduct any searches on the cliffs or coastlines as they could get into difficulty themselves. Please be assured that the coastguards and lifeboat crewmen - who are properly equipped and trained to reach these areas – are currently carrying out extensive searches along the coastline.’ Any sightings of the missing teenager Samuel White should be immediately reported to Dorset Police.

A fallen climber and his fellow climbing partner were rescued from an incoming tide after falling 30ft from a cliff in Cornwall. Just before 5pm yesterday, HM Coastguard were contacted by Devon & Cornwall Police​ reporting that a fellow climber had informed them that his climbing partner had fallen 30ft over a cliff near Sharpness Point, Morwenstow.  The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay was sent to the scene alongside Bude Coastguard Search and Rescue Team​ and Hartland Coastguard Search and Rescue Team​. The fellow climber had already assisted the casualty by putting him the recovery position and then awaited the arrival of HM Coastguard.  The Newquay Coastguard helicopter arrived on scene quickly and was skilfully manoeuvred in the strong off-shore wind and heavy turbulence to the base of the cliff in order to drop the winchman and stretcher down to the scene. After being made stable, the casualty and his climbing partner were winched o...

HM Coastguard is reminding people of the dangers they might face along the coast as Storm Eleanor hits. Weather warnings have been put in place across the UK by the Met Office as winds of up to 80 mph are expected to hit overnight.  Duncan Ley, Controller for HM Coastguard said: ' There are a number of things we advise people about when bad weather is expected to hit the UK. We always advise people to check the weather and tidal conditions before the set out so that they can either prepare accordingly or consider whether they should even be going out at all. 'At sea, changes in tidal streams can make conditions worse, particularly if the wind and tide are against each other and tidal heights may hide underwater hazards. You can check marine weather at this link:  www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine  and tides at this link:  http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide ‘If you’re on the coastline, think twice about going out. And however dramatic it looks, don’t ...

As an agency committed to safety of life at sea, we’re always looking for new ways to get our messages across. One of the most successful - and unusual - ongoing campaigns is led by station officer Kevin Paterson and his team of ‘Wee Guys.’ Kevin Paterson has been talking to Heather Skull about how two of the things he loves - LEGO and HM Coastguard - have been taking social media by storm. He said: ‘As a child I loved LEGO, but I guess as I grew up, other things took over. But then in 2014, LEGO released a whole range of arctic exploration sets in conjunction with National Geographic Magazine. It had been nearly 20 years since I last purchased any LEGO when I was a child and picked up one of the small sets just on a whim.’ Then Kevin had an idea. What if you could use the LEGO figures to create a team of mini Coastguards, combining the power of social media and the popularity of LEGO to promote coastal safety and the work of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency? Kevin Paterson w...