HM Coastguard

From dramatic search and rescue incidents to training exercises, from important safety events to milestone achievements, here are just some of the key moments and highlights from HM Coastguard as we look back over the last 12 months.  JANUARY The year started with the familiar coastguard uniform spotted on  SOS Extreme Rescues . The dramatic documentary series is based in the stunning and wild landscape of Eryri, more commonly known as Snowdonia, capturing emergency services response to dangerous call outs and those in urgent need. Look out for HM Coastguard in new Snowdonia rescue series The National Water Safety Forum, of which HM Coastguard is a member, launched a powerful film about the dangers of open water. The film centres around Robbie Jones, telling the story of losing his dad to the sea in January 2021.  Safety advocate Robbie shares story of losing his father to the sea    FEBRUARY Coastguard Rescue Teams in the Western Isles were celebrated by Police...

  An easy-to-use piece of technology helped rescuers quickly reach kayakers who got into difficulty off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales. Just over an hour after the group raised the alarm using their Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), they were safely boarding a lifeboat and heading back to shore.  The seven people had been exploring waters west of Fishguard, near Strumble Head, on 30 November. But a shift in conditions forced them away from the open water to seek shelter by land.  There they became trapped between cliffs on one side and the gathering waves and wind on the other.  In such an isolated spot mobile reception was poor. But the group had a Plan B up their sleeves to summon help: three Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs).  The kit can be a lifesaver. Manually activated and worn on the body, it broadcasts the user’s location to HM Coastguard. For those who have registered their PLB with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the contact details and watercra...

  On Thursday 12 December, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will remember those who died during employment or in the workplace. Since 2019, National Workplace Day of Remembrance has been an important annual opportunity for teams and colleagues across the MCA to pay tribute to those working to improve safety for those employed on the coast and at sea.  For the MCA, the date is an occasion to pay tribute to people working across the maritime sector to improve seafarer safety – from those working in HM Coastguard Operations and Search and Rescue, to ship surveyors, Coastguard Rescue Officers and enforcement teams. MCA Chief Executive Virginia McVea said: “National Workplace Day of Remembrance memorialises those who’ve tragically lost their lives during employment, or while at work.  “The date also highlights the importance of work taking place across the country to improve safety. There are many roles across our industry that specifically focus on and tackle maritime...

  The Clinical Governance Team ensures effective clinical systems and support are in place for all areas of HM Coastguard operational delivery and that people in our service are trained to the highest clinical standards. Responsible for overseeing clinical skills and the training of casualty care instructors, the Clinical Governance team is vital to standardising HM Coastguard medical care for the Coastal Rescue Service. We spoke to the team to understand more. The Clinical Governance Team deliver, maintain and update the Coastguard Emergency Responder Casualty Care course, or ‘CERCC’. CERCC is delivered by around 75 instructors across the United Kingdom, who then train circa 3000 volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers.  Through a newly implemented annual revalidation process, the Clinical Governance Team has been provided with increased face-to-face engagement, offering a greater insight and opportunity to reinforce what standardised good practice looks like.  The team can...

International Volunteer Day is held on 5 December every year to pay tribute to all the amazing people who give their time to help others. At HM Coastguard, volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers are our lifeblood.  They make up the more than 3,000-strong Coastguard Rescue Service which is on standby round the clock, every day of the year, to respond to incident and emergencies by the coast as well as supporting partner agencies inland.  Forming 300-plus Coastguard Rescue Teams, they are based all around the UK coastline, from Scilly to Shetland, Ballycastle to Berwick, and Cardigan to Clacton.  They are trained in search and rescue techniques in a variety of environments: cliffs, mud, tidal and shallow waters.  They can also deliver casualty care, support helicopter landing sites and assist other agencies. They will even check the shoreline for stranded whales or reports of pollution.  We think our volunteers are amazing.   But don’t take our word for it...