HM Coastguard

This afternoon at 3.15pm Liverpool Coastguard received a report from a member of the public that there was a small boat adrift with nobody aboard off the ‘The Battery’ at Morecambe, Lancashire. A coastguard from Morecambe Coastguard Rescue Team quickly assessed that the boat ‘Toucan’ was drifting toward Heysham. The RNLI Hovercraft also from Morecambe was requested to launch and retrieved the 22ft vessel, towing it back to Morecambe before securing it close to the RNLI boathouse. Extensive investigations ensued, through local contacts, to ascertain the owner of the ‘Toucan’ and at 7.10 this evening Liverpool Coastguard received information that the boat was very likely to come adrift again and that acquaintances of the owner would attempt to take it back to its original mooring. At 8.30pm Liverpool Coastguard received a report that a group of people including a child were trying to secure the ‘Toucan’ but were in imminent danger of being cut off by the fast incoming tide. Once again

Swansea Coastguard are warning people to check tidal conditions before they set out after two groups of teenagers have become cut off by the tide in the same place within days of each other. Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call from four 16-year-old girls who had been cut off by the tide at Jenny’s Gut at 6.10 pm this evening. The coastguard sent the Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene and requested the Mumbles RNLI lifeboat to launch. The coastguard team and lifeboat assessed the situation once on scene and advised the coastguard that the best course of action would be to airlift the girls from the base of the cliffs. The rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was scrambled and airlifted the four to the cliff top, where they were given suitable safety advice before being repatriated with their parents. This incident follows a very similar one on Wednesday when three 15-year-old boys were airlifted from the cliffs AT Jenny’s Gut after becoming stuck and attempting to climb the c

A man sustained serious head injuries and his wife was also superficially injured after falling down cliffs whilst out walking their dogs today. Brixham Coastguard received a call from the sailing vessel ‘Four Sons’ at 12.15 today to report that a man had sustained serious injuries after falling down cliffs at Torbay. The vessel had been alerted to the man’s predicament by a springer spaniel which was barking and running up and down the cliffs. The coastguard requested the Torbay RNLI Inshore lifeboat to launch and requested the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team to attend. Ambulance paramedics also went to the scene. The coastguard rescue team assessed the man and put him into a neck brace, whilst awaiting arrival of the paramedics. A decision was then made that the best course of action would be to put the man onto a stretcher and take him back to shore using the lifeboat. The man (aged 53) and woman (aged 46) were then taken   to Torbay Hospital. Fiona Iris, Brixham Coastguard Watch Mana

London Coastguard have been coordinating the search for a missing kayaker this afternoon, after his upturned boat and oars were spotted by a member of the public at the Hammerton’s ferry at 12.30 pm this afternoon. London Coastguard requested the Teddington RNLI lifeboat to launch and this was shortly followed by the other Teddington RNLI lifeboat. The Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat also joined the search later. The Police helicopter carried out a search and Police on foot are also undertaking  a shorebased search. The Port of London Authority harbour launch and other vessels also joined the search. The search is ongoing at this time. Bob Forbes, London Coastguard Watch Manager says: "We have been carrying out an intensive search of the River Thames in the Eel Pie Island to Richmond area for a couple of hours now but sadly we have not been able to find any sign of the missing kayaker yet. He was not wearing a buoyancy aid."

Swansea Coastguard are a sking sailors and motorboaters to familiarise themselves with correct radio procedures after a series of incidents where boaters have made incorrect broadcasts leading to needless delays and lifeboat launches. “Throughout this week we have dealt with a number of incidents where people have made the incorrect broadcasts, hampering us in our ability to assist them,” says Dave Jones, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager. “On Tuesday, a vessel broadcast ‘mayday’, meaning that it was ‘in grave and imminent danger’.   The vessel said that they were taking on water. We requested the Horton RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Mumbles all weather lifeboat to launch and another nearby vessel also offered its assistance and went to the boat’s aid. However, upon further investigation we discovered that the water that was onboard the vessel had been there for some time and so they remained at sea. “The next day, another vessel broadcast ‘mayday’, but held down the broadcast button,

Three people whose motorboat ‘Mi Amigo’ had started to sink off Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire were rescued this afternoon after broadcasting an ‘urgency ‘ broadcast. Milford Haven Coastguard heard a faint pan pan (urgency) broadcast from the motorboat ‘Mi Amigo’ at 4.10 pm this afternoon. The vessel had started to take water through its drive shaft and needed urgent assistance. The Coastguard requested the Angle and St Davids RNLI lifeboats to launch and re-broadcast the pan pan message to which other vessels in the area, including the ferry ‘Isle of Inishmore’ responded.   Although the only position given was ‘south of Skokholm Island’ the vessel was located after a short while, very low in the water, east of Skokholm Island. The Angle Lifeboat put its pumps on board the vessel so that the excess water could be pumped off and the vessel was towed back into Angle by the lifeboat. Acting Watch Manager Barry Skidmore says: “The broadcast was very faint and we only picked it up once in a

A young man has been extracted from a ravine by coastguards and taken to hospital by air ambulance after a tombstoning jump went wrong. Aberdeen Coastguard were contacted by the police at 6.00 pm this evening to request assistance for a man in his early twenties who they suspected had jumped off of a bridge into a ravine on the River Glascarnoch near Garve, 20 miles north-west of Inverness and broken both his ankles. Ambulance paramedics had already made an initial assessment of the scene and, due to the terrain, requested coastguard assistance. Aberdeen Coastguard scrambled the coastguard helicopter form Stornoway and requested coastguard teams from Inverness, Portmahomack and Dornoch to attend the scene. When the coastguards arrived, they set up their rope equipment and scaled down the side of the ravine to the  man.  He was put on a spinal board on a special flat based dinghy and floated down the river, then transferred onto the awaiting air ambulance and airlifted to Raigmore H

This morning at 6.00 am the angling vessel ‘Sam’, from Beer, came across three people in the water and a sinking 16ft sports angling boat. The three had been out on a fishing expedition near the River Axe mouth, when their vessel had overturned and begun to sink. The crew of ‘Sam’ recovered the casualties from the water who were cold and wet but unharmed. It was only by chance that the angling vessel ‘Sam’ was in the area and had spotted the survivors. The angling boat had capsized at speed and the three men on board had been thrown into the water with no warning. Their lifejackets were safely stowed back at home and so were of no use to them. The angling boat has now sunk off Seaton and may be salvaged later. Portland Coastguard Watch Officer Roger Hoare says: “These three men are extremely lucky to be alive after making such a basic error as leaving their lifejackets at home. If the angling vessel ‘Sam’ had not been passing at that moment their chances of survival could have be

Three teenage boys got into difficulty after climbing 155 foot cliff at Ginnys Gut, Langland this evening. Swansea Coastguard received a ‘999’ call from one of the three boys at 6:37pm . The boy had made it to the top of the cliff, but his two friends were in difficulty, one was stuck 15 foot up the cliff and the other was at the foot of the cliff. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Mumbles and Rhossili were sent to the scene and the RNLI Mumbles Inshore Lifeboat was requested to launch. Rescue helicopter 169 from RAF Chivenor was scrambled and the South Wales Police were in attendance. Bernie Kemble, Watch Officer, Swansea Coastguard, said: “The Rescue Helicopter rescued the 15 year old boy from the cliff at Ginnys Gut, Langland, after he became stuck whilst attempting to climb up the cliff from the beach. A second 15 year old boy was rescued from the base of the cliff by lifeboat crew. All three boys are now safe and well. We would like to remind visitors to the coast to always che

                                                                                                                  A search took place this evening for two young girls in an inflatable dinghy, off Sandgreen, Gatehouse Of Fleet ( Dumfries and Galloway). Liverpool Coastguard received a call from the mother of one of the two girls just after 8pm , she was concerned for the safety of the two girls as she had not seen them for at least an hour. Liverpool Coastguard sent the Kirkcudbright Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene and requested the launch of the Fleet Bay Independent Rescue Boat, Port William Independent Lifeboat and the RNLI   Kirkcudbright Inshore Lifeboat. A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley was scrambled and the Solway Coastguard Sector Manager was sent to the scene. Paul Parkes, Watch Manager, Liverpool Coastguard, said: “I am pleased to say the two girls were found safe and well, but had drifted a mile from their original destination and were found by a canoeist who ass

A man has been rescued from the Mourne after falling and sustaining serious leg, head and hand injuries. Mountains     Belfast Coastguard received a call from Police at 1.30 pm this afternoon reporting that a man had fallen about 150 feet near Eagle Rocks in the Mourne and sustained serious injuries. The Police air support helicopter and the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team were sent to the scene by the police whilst Belfast Coastguard placed an ambulance on standby. Mountains     Belfast Coastguard requested the Dublin Coastguard helicopter to scramble and kept the man on the phone, trying to direct rescuers towards him, and reassuring him that help was on its way. After two hours of searching, the search area was gradually narrowed down, until eventually the mountain rescue team were able to locate the man. The mountain rescue team administered first aid and prepared the man ready for airlift to the Royal by coastguard helicopter, where the Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team manned the l

A 12-year-old boy phoned the Coastguard to ask for help this afternoon after getting into difficulty when paddling in a kayak off Giltar Point near Tenby.   The 12-year-old and a friend were paddling in the kayak, being pushed by his father when the weather changed and they began being swept out to sea. At 2.38 pm the boy called Milford Haven Coastguard to report that he and his friend (also 12-years-old) had been being pushed around in the kayak by his father, but that they were being swept out by the tide and were in need of help.   Milford Haven Coastguard sent the Tenby RNLI inshore lifeboat to the scene, along with tasking the Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team and informing the RNLI Lifeguards.   They also made a broadcast to any vessels in the area that might be able to offer assistance.   A local fishing vessel, the ‘Stephen William’ answered the broadcast immediately, locating the group within a minute and bringing them as close to the shore as possible, where they we

A female diver has been declared dead at Wansbeck Hospital after surfacing unconscious during a dive off Seahouses this afternoon. The dive boat that the woman had been diving from contacted Humber Coastguard at 12.38 pm to report that the diver had fallen unconscious whilst surfacing from a dive.   Humber Coastguard requested the dive boat bring the diver to the shore, to be met by the Seahouses Coastguard Rescue Team and an ambulance.  In the meantime, the Coastguard organised a link call between the dive boat and the Institute of Naval Medicine, who recommended that the casualty be taken straight to the nearest Accident and Emergency department.  The crew of the Rescue Helicopter from RAF Boulmer heard the communications and offered to transfer the casualty as they were nearby attending another incident.  The Rescue Helicopter then airlifted the casualty to Wansbeck Hospital, where the woman was declared deceased.

Eight people were rescued from the cliffs at Brean Down this evening after they became cut off by the incoming tide, tried to climb up the cliffs to safety and then became stuck. The group – made up of five children and three adults – raised the alarm at 7.15 pm by calling Swansea Coastguard to report that they had become stuck on the cliffs at Brean Down, near Burnham-On-Sea. Swansea Coastguard sent a rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor, the Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard Rescue Team and two RNLI lifeboats to the rescue of the group.   At 7.42 pm the team located the stranded group, and the rescue helicopter winched all eight into the helicopter and took them to a nearby field where they were met by the coastguard rescue team. After transferring the group to safety, the helicopter was then tasked by Swansea Coastguard onto reports of a man that had fallen into Ilfracombe Harbour.   He was helped ashore by a member of the public and met by paramedics and the Ilfracombe Coastguard Rescue

A cliff climber who was hit by a boulder and fell down the 130 foot sheer rock face at St Govans Head was   rescued from the bottom of the cliffs by coastguard rescue teams and airlifted to hospital this evening. The 28 year old woman was climbing the cliff face with a group when she was hit by a boulder and fell to the base of the cliffs. A man who was walking at the top of the cliffs heard her friends shouting for help and called 999 and asked for the coastguard at 8.30 pm. The member of the public spoke to Milford Haven Coastguard who requested the Tenby, St Govans and Castle Martin Coastguard Rescue Teams to attend the scene along with the South Pembs Coastguard Sector Manager.   The rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled. The coastguard rescue teams were guided to the scene by the member of the public who was standing at the top of the cliff. The teams set up their cliff gear and two coastguards descended the cliff and administered first aid. A paramedic joined the

  A motorcruiser with four people on board broadcast an urgent request for help this afternoon after the vessel struck a submerged object, north of Lundy Island. The 32 foot motorcruiser ‘Estedor 2’ broadcast a pan-pan message which was picked up by Swansea Coastguard at 3.25 pm this afternoon. The coastguard re-broadcast the message to which a passenger vessel and a yacht responded, going to the motorcruiser’s assistance. The Estedor 2 had started to take on some water, although this was being pumped off by the vessel’s bilge pumps. The collision had also caused damage to the motorcruiser’s engines, so Swansea Coastguard requested the Appledore RNLI all weather lifeboat to launch to the vessel’s assistance. Once on scene, the lifeboat took the motorcruiser in tow to Appledore. Bev Haigh, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager says: “All four of the people on board were wearing lifejackets and acted correctly in making a pan pan broadcast on VHF channel 16 as soon as the collision had hap

A man has been rescued 100 feet from the top of 600 foot cliffs which he had climbed at Minehead Bluff, Somerset to escape the incoming tide. The man called 999 and requested help from Swansea Coastguard at 6.00 pm this evening. He had been climbing up the cliff after becoming cut off by the tide and was stuck 100 feet from the top in thick bracken. Swansea Coastguard requested the Minehead and Watchet Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Exmoor Coastguard Sector Manager to attend the scene. The rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled. The man was quickly located by the helicopter. All that could be seen of him was an arm waving from out of the bracken, since the man was dressed in combat clothing. He was winched from his position on the cliff into the care of the Minehead Coastguard Rescue Team. Other than being exhausted by his ordeal, the man was uninjured. Bev Haigh, Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager says: “If you become cut off by the tide, please do not attempt to c

Three young men from the Manchester area were rescued by the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team yesterday after becoming stuck in three different places on the face of the high chalk cliffs at Culver Down, on the east side of the Isle of Wight. The young men, aged 16, 17 and 18, were trying to travel round the headland from Whitecliffe Bay to Sandown Bay when the tide overtook their efforts and forced them to climb further up the cliffs. They had been advised locally that they could get all the way around the headland at low tide. The youths called 999 at about 5.30 pm and spoke to Solent Coastguard who requested the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team   to search for, and rescue the three. The Bembridge RNLI lifeboat was also requested to launch. The young men were located, about 40 feet from the bottom of the cliffs. Two different coastguard rescue officers were then lowered down the 300-foot cliffs to rescue the teenagers from three different positions on the chalk face. All three

At 6.00 pm yesterday, Belfast Coastguard received a 999 call from one of a party of four teenagers who were cut off by the tide and were up to their shoulders in water close to Ardilea, while walking from Ballykinler to Dundrum. Belfast Coastguard immediately tasked Southdown Coastguard Rescue Team and requested the launch of the Newcastle RNLI Inshore Lifeboat. Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also responded to the incident. Whilst search and rescue units were proceeding to the incident, a gentleman who has formally served as a volunteer Coastguard and lives nearby assisted in the rescue. He managed to get his dinghy into the water and get to the teenagers who were showing signs of hypothermia and were complaining of the cold. After recovering all four teenagers with his dinghy, he made shore to be met by members of Southdown Coastguard Rescue Team and NI Ambulance Service paramedics. The four were transported to hospital by two ambulances for further assessment. Gary Young, Watch m

At 12.50pm, Humber MRCC received a report from Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team that two young boys, aged 9 and 11 had become stuck on the cliffs at Whitley Bay. Blyth Coastguard were on a routine patrol at the time, and had intercepted a call from the RNLI beach lifeguards, who were calling Humber Coastguard to alert them to the incident. Humber Coastguard immediately tasked Blyth Coastguard rescue team to assist, and also called on the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade to attend the incident. Once these resources arrived on scene, it was clear that the boys were indeed in danger, so much so that one of the RNLI lifeguards attempted to rescue the boys himself. He had then become trapped in a difficult position. From the position they were in, they faced a 30 foot drop. Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer, who was also training in the area was called to assist with the rescue. The two boys were eventually rescued by the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, and lowered safely to the bea

At 12.50pm, Humber MRCC received a report from Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team that two young boys, aged 9 and 11 had become stuck on the cliffs at Whitley Bay. Blyth Coastguard were on a routine patrol at the time, and had intercepted a call from the RNLI beach lifeguards, who were calling Humber Coastguard to alert them to the incident. Humber Coastguard immediately tasked Blyth Coastguard rescue team to assist, and also called on the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade to attend the incident. Once these resources arrived on scene, it was clear that the boys were indeed in danger, so much so that one of the RNLI lifeguards attempted to rescue the boys himself. He had then become trapped in a difficult position. From the position they were in, they faced a 30 foot drop. Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Boulmer, who was also training in the area was called to assist with the rescue. The two boys were eventually rescued by the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, and lowered safely to the bea

At 10.20 pm yesterday evening, Belfast Coastguard received a 999 call from a man reporting, two children cut off on the rocks at Cove Bay, Groomsport. Belfast Coastguard called out the Bangor Coastguard rescue team and requested the launch of the Bangor RNLI inshore lifeboat. When the Coastguard team arrived they were able to assist one of the girls to safety, whilst the second girl was recovered by the lifeboat. The girls were taken back to the lifeboat station where they were collected by their parents. Alan Pritchard, Watch Manager, Belfast Coastguard said: Our coastline is a wonderful and exciting environment for all ages but can sometimes have hidden dangers which may not be so obvious to small children on their own. Thankfully, someone heard the girls call for help and called for the emergency services. If you see anyone in trouble at the coast or on the sea, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

In June the UK Flag passed the 18 million gross tonnes (GT) mark for the first time since 1983. The UK Flag has grown approximately 165% since 2001, having now reached the 18 million GT mark. During the 1980’s and 1990’s the UK Flag went through a period of decline, falling as low as 4 million GT.  Since 2001 the UK Flag has made a tremendous recovery. So far during 2011 there have been 58 new ship registrations with a combined gross tonnage of 2 million GT.  Of these new registrations 42 were new builds, whilst the remainder transferred in from other flags.  The average age of vessels flagging-in so far this year is 4 years, whilst the average age of vessels leaving the register is 16. Recently appointed Head of UKSR, Debasis Mazumdar said: “I am extremely pleased that the UK Ship Register has reached the 18 million GT mark.  However, it is important that this growth continues with quality owners and quality ships in the future, and it is certainly our aspiration to do so.  Th

Two Dutch crew from a yacht have been rescued in gale force conditions overnight, 75 miles South West of the Isles Of Scilly. At 8.20pm on Thursday Falmouth Coastguard received an EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Radio Beacon) distress alert located 75 miles South West of the Isles Of Scilly, which they determined was registered to a Swedish 36 foot yacht called Andriette.   Falmouth Coastguard contacted merchant vessels in the area and a message was relayed from another yacht which had encountered the Andriette on Wednesday and reported that she had suffered some damage but had continued on her passage from the Azores to Malmo in Sweden . The Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose located the damaged yacht at 10.40pm which was without steering, lying stern to the wind in heavy seas. With winching over the deck impossible in the conditions, the two men on board had to abandon to their liferaft.   The winchman retrieved one man from the liferaft but the liferaft capsized and on returni