HM Coastguard

Press Notice No: 26-11                                                             30 January, 2011 At 17.59pm, Brixham Coastguard received a call from the vessel Yarmouth Navigator on VHF Channel 16 reporting that they were tied up on the old concrete pontoons, but were taking on water. The vessel had four crew on board. The Border Agency RHIB was assisting the vessel. Brixham Coastguard requested the launch of the Plymouth RNLI lifeboat. Plymouth MOD Police launch was also requested to attend. One of the crew ended up in the water as their vessel sank underneath them, the other three were rescued. The vessel is a 30 metre ex Navy Motor Fishing Vessel. Three men were assisted, but one man is still missing. He was last seen exiting the wheelhouse. He is wearing yellow oilskins but no lifejacket. Tamar, Plymouth and Yealm Coastguard teams have all been called out to search and a rescue helicopter has been requested. R169 from Chivenor was scrambled. Dave Scullion, Watch Manager, Brixha

Press Notice No: 25-11                                                             30 January, 2011 At 14.56 pm, a call was received from South East Coast Ambulance service requesting assistance to evacuate a male with a broken leg. The 35 year old man had been walking at the base of cliffs when he slipped on rocks and sustained a severe break to his leg. He fell about 14.15 pm, and was found by a friend who had to walk out to the nearest farm to raise the alarm. Dover Coastguard called out the Hastings Coastguard rescue team who went to where the man had fallen at Covehurst Bay, Fairlight. They met with a Secamb responder who was making the man comfortable. It was felt that to attempt an evacuation by boat would be extremely difficult and painful for the man. The Coastguard rescue helicopter R104 based at Lee on Solent was requested. They airlifted the man to the Conquest hospital, Hastings, where he is now receiving treatment for his injury. Gordon Wise, Watch Manager, Dover Coastgu

Press Notice No: 24-11                                                             30 January, 2011 Liverpool Coastguard have this afternoon co-coordinated a multi-agency rescue of a 35 year old man who became stuck in mud whilst walking on the beach at New Brighton.  Following several 999 reports of the man shouting for help, Liverpool Coastguard tasked the Hoylake and Crosby Coastguard Rescue team and requested the fire service rescue boat and land units, together with the RNLI hovercraft from New Brighton.   Fire service personnel were able to extricate the man from the mud and transfer him to the hovercraft. After initially declining medical assistance, the man (who had been trapped in the mud for 45 minutes) complained of pains in the arm and so an ambulance was requested. The man was transferred to the ambulance at New Brighton.   Liverpool Coastguard Watch Manager Paul Parkes said: This man was extremely lucky that the tide was still going out. Had the tide been flooding i

Press Notice No: 23-11                                                             30 January, 2011 At 09.43am the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Falmouth in Cornwall received a telephone call from a local shipping Agent, (Tamlyns), reporting that they had been contacted by the owners of the Motor Tanker DT Vincenzo P. A 51 year old Filipino crewman onboard the vessel, which was 60 nautical miles south west of the Isles of Scilly, was suffering cardiac problems. Due to the position of the vessel, Falmouth Coastguard used satellite communications to obtain further information to enable an evacuation to be planned. The Captain of the DT Vincenzo P was then connected by the Coastguard to a Doctor at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth for medical advice. The Doctor made a medical assessment and recommended the patient to be evacuated to the nearest hospital immediately. A helicopter was requested by Falmouth Coastguard, and a Search and rescue helicopter from 771 Na

Press Notice No: 22-11                                                             29 January, 2011 At 03.22 pm Humber Coastguard were notified by Humberside Fire and Rescue of a horse stuck in mud up to its belly at Cleethorpes. Cleethorpes Coastguard rescue team were called out to assist. Cleethorpes Coastguard team assisted the fire and rescue service with equipment and their local knowledge of the area to ensure the safety of all involved in this incident. The Coastguard team worked with the fire officers to free the animal from the mud.   Once the horse was free it was walked across the marsh to a waiting vet.   Graham Dawson, Watch Manager, Humber Coastguard said: The horse riders were visitors to the area and the owner became very distressed and concerned for her horse. If you are planning a ride at the coast, plan your ride and know the terrain. Seek advice from local stables about the area.

At 15.06 pm, Forth Coastguard received a 999 call from a man reporting that he and a woman were cut off by the tide at Crammond Island. They reported that they were others on the island, but the others had managed to get ashore. Forth Coastguard called out the South Queensferry Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of the South Queensferry RNLI inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat recovered them from the island and landed them ashore. Chris Bolam, Watch Manager, Forth Coastguard said: The public are advised to check tide times and to ensure that they get back from the island before the tide floods.

At 10.20 this morning Swansea Coastguard were contacted by a Dutch registered cargo vessel, the Eems Star to report an injured crewman on board. The vessel was at anchor at the time. The 38 year old Filipino crewman was suffering from a head injury after a fall against a guard rail. Swansea Coastguard made contact with the duty doctor, and discussed the nature of the mans injuries. A decision was made to evacuate the man off the vessel and take him for medical attention at the Morriston Hospital. With westerly winds of 10 knots and a calm sea it was decided to request the launch of the Mumbles RNLI all weather lifeboat. Once transferred aboard the lifeboat the injured man was brought ashore and taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea for further treatment. The vessel remains at anchor. Dai Jones, Watch Officer at Swansea Coastguard said Medical evacuations from such vessels are no easy transfer, particularly where head, neck or back injuries are involved. We have to take into

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that 7 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during December 2010 after failing Port State Control ( PSC ) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were 2 new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during December 2010 and 5 vessels under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 2.87% this is slightly down from November’s twelve month rate. Out of the detained vessels 3 were registered with flag states listed on the Paris MOU white list, 2 were registered with   flag states on the grey list 1 was   registered with a   flag state on the black list and 1 was unregistered. 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 (95/21/EC as amended), the Mariti

At around 11.30 this morning Belfast Coastguard were alerted to two people in distress after one of them was pitched into the water from his capsized canoe and had been struggling, without success to get back into the craft. The call came from his colleague. The emergency call stated that the two men, both in their early 50s, were off Copeland Sound between the coast and Donaghadee. Both men were wearing lifejackets. The man in difficulty was exhausted and needed assistance. The seas on scene were described as having a heavy swell. Both the Bangor and Donaghadee RNLI inshore lifeboats were asked to launch and a fisheries patrol vessel, the ‘Queen of Ulster’ also offered assistance after hearing the radio exchanges. During the incident, Belfast Coastguard kept in contact with the canoeist who had remained in his craft to ensure that both men were aware of the situation and that help was proceeding.   Louis McGookin, Duty Watch Manager at Belfast Coastguard said “It

  Two young women have been taken to hospital after escaping from their car which went over the cliff at Pendennis Point saturday evening. Falmouth Coastguard received a request for assistance from the Devon and Cornwall Police in respect to a car having gone over the cliff at 10:15pm at Pendennis Point. Coastguard Rescue officers from Falmouth were sent to the scene as well as the south Cornwall sector manager.   The Falmouth RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch. Police, Fire and Ambulance services were on scene. Marc Thomas, Watch Manager at Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "The car’s two occupants, both female have been transferred by lifeboat to the Falmouth lifeboat house where they will then be taken on to the Royal Cornwall hospital . The car is in an upright and intact position but badly damaged and will be recovered in due course.” For further details contact: The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Duty Press Officer Office hours: 023 8032

Swansea Coastguard is urging boat users to always be prepared when going out on the water, after an incident involving four adults and a baby off Porthcawl. The group was in need of assistance after their cabin cruiser lost engine power and found themselves inadequately prepared for being on the water. The request for assistance came at 8:37pm (Friday), Swansea Coastguard requested the launch of the Porthcawl RNLI lifeboat and sent Coastguard Rescue officers from Porthcawl to assist with visual observation and be on scene for their arrival into harbour. Bernie Kemble, Watch Manager at Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "We were aware of the cabin cruiser on passage from Swansea to Porthcawl and had made contact with them on a mobile phone for reassurance of their safety as we were concerned with their inadequate navigation lighting and safety equipment aboard.   It was shortly after this call that assistance was requested and the lifeboat was on scene to ass

The search for missing fisherman Neil Smith has currently been stood down and will be reassessed at first light Saturday morning by Shetland Coastguard. Fisherman, Neil Smith was reported missing Thursday evening.   He had not returned to his normal berth in Lerwick harbour, aboard his prawn trawler ‘Breadwinner’ WY367. Alex Wylie, Duty Watch Manager at Shetland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "During an extensive search the vessel was located semi submerged and badly damaged on the rocks at 9:45am this morning. Unfortunately, no sign of the single occupant could be found. The search has been ongoing all day.   Units involved were: Coastguard Rescue helicopter ‘OC’; BP’s Jigsaw Helicopter ‘Bond II’; Marine Scotland Flight ‘Watchdog 65’ (fixed wing aircraft); Lerwick RNLI all weather lifeboat and two fishing vessels, the ‘Kestrel’ and ‘Guiding Light.’ The search was stood down at 4:30pm due to darkness. Search routines are being reassessed and recomputed for a

This evening a young man has been rescued on the beach at Rhossili, after getting stuck in mud up to his waist. The Fire and Rescue Service informed Swansea Coastguard of the incident at 8:05pm , stating that the casualty was out walking and was in a distressed situation, stuck in mud. Swansea Coastguard sent Rhossili Coastguard Rescue team and Burry Port and Port Talbot Coastguard Mud Rescue teams. Rescue Helicopter 169 from RAF Chivenor was scrambled and the Swansea Ambulance and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were on scene. Will Parfitt, Watch Manager at Swansea Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "A Coastguard Rescue officer was first on scene, as the tide was too high for vehicle access he went on foot to the casualty and reassured him that help was on its way.   The casualty who was in his early twenties and thought to be local was extracted from the mud and has now being taken by air to Morriston Hospital . Coastal walkers should always be aware

Following a one day trial in Yate Magistrates Court, the owner/skipper of a passenger vessel, the ‘River Princess II’ was found guilty of one offence under Merchant Shipping safety legislation relating to the qualifications of the skipper. The vessel is a 1937 built wooden hulled small passenger vessel which operates on the River Avon between Bath and Bristol .   During spring and early summer of 2009, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Cardiff Marine Office had concerns regarding the operation of the River Princess was operating.   Accordingly on 27 th May 2009 two MCA officers travelled to Avon Riverside, near Bitton, where they observed the ‘River Princess II’ returning to its berth.   The skipper on the day was the owner, Mr Robert Morley. As a result of the visit the vessel was detained.   Investigations also raised concerns about the qualifications of Mr Morley. Further enquiries showed that Mr Morley did not hold a Boat Masters Licence or any equivalent certification i

Clyde Coastguard are currently co-ordinating a search for a missing male passenger after they were reported missing by a coach driver when the ferry, the ‘European Highlander’, docked at Cairnryan in Scotland after travelling from Larne in Northern Ireland. The Coastguard were notified a little after 10.00 am this morning. The ferry is now being fully searched. The vessel had departed from Larne at 07.24 this morning and arrived at Cairnryan two hours later at a speed of approximately 18 knots. The master of the vessel has confirmed that one person is missing from the ships manifest. The sea conditions are currently calm with a slight swell and good visibility with south westerly winds of 5 knots between the two locations. A rescue helicopter, R 177, has been scrambled from the Royal Naval Air Station at Prestwick . Clyde Coastguard are now organising a search throughout the area taking into account tidal drift and winds. Coastguard Rescue Teams have now been turned out ready t

Shetland Coastguard is appealing to the public for further information concerning a missing fisherman and Shetland resident, Neil Smith, and the whereabouts of his vessel prawn trawler ‘Breadwinner WY 367’ The alarm was raised yesterday evening at around 9.00 pm when the vessel had not returned to its normal berth in Lerwick harbour after leaving at 6.15 am from Morrison dock. The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh was scrambled to begin a search to Score Head where the vessel was known to have been heading when it left Lerwick. The weather last night on scene was southwesterly winds of force 5 to 6 with occasional rain, and a moderate sea. Sea temperature at this time of year is about 8 degrees C. Information was received to suggest that the vessel was a regular visitor to Cunningsburgh and had last been seen in the area yesterday morning. The local Police have also been involved making inland enquiries. Electronic broadcasts have been made throughout the night by Shet