HM Coastguard

On 7th March 2012, Miroslaw Pozniak, the master of the merchant ship Union Moon, registered in the Cook Islands, was outbound from the port of Belfast when he collided with the inbound ferry Stena Feronia There were 51 passengers and 47 crew onboard the ferry and six people onboard the cargo ship. Fortunately no one was injured in the collision, however there was substantial damage to both ships. The two ships were approaching the fairway buoy which marks the beginning of the main channel into Belfast harbour. As the Union Moon passed the Fairway Buoy, she should have altered course to starboard on to an easterly heading, but unexpectedly altered course to port in to the port side of the approaching ferry. Captain Pozniak pleaded guilty at court in Newtonards on the 12th March 2012 to breaches of the Railways and Transport Act 2003 by being four times over the alcohol limit. At a later hearing he was also charged with failing to keep a proper lookout and to causing serious damage to hi

A 77-year-old man was airlifted to hospital by the Portland Coastguard Helicopter this evening after crashing into the cliffs at Eype near West Bay , Dorset . Portland Coastguard was notified of the incident at 6.00 pm by Dorset Fire and Rescue.  The report was that a hang glider had crashed into the cliff at Eype, near the Highlands Caravan Park .  Portland Coastguard sent the West Bay and Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Teams, who worked with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and South West Ambulance Service. Upon arriving it became clear that, due to the location of the casualty and the nature of his injuries, rescue by helicopter was the most appropriate method.  The Portland Coastguard helicopter was scrambled and arrived on scene at 6.19 pm.  Having winched the casualty from the cliff, a paramedic trained winchman assessed the casualty on the cliff top and with a suspected dislocated right hip he was transferred to Dorchester County Hospital with the assistance of Wyke Re

Two anglers were rescued this afternoon from thick fog after their vessel broke down. The ‘Elvie’ called Whitby Harbour office at just after 10.30 this morning to say that the vessel had broken down with two people on board. They gave their position as 8km east of Whitby . The harbour office called Humber Coastguard. Whitby RNLI Lifeboat was asked to go to the vessel’s assistance and the Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team went to harbour to glean as much information about the vessel as they could. Humber Coastguard attempted to contact the ‘Elvie’ to confirm their location but couldn’t contact them. It later transpired that this was because the vessel’s battery was flat and so their VHF radio wouldn’t work. Luckily they hadn’t drifted in the fog and the Whitby RNLI Lifeboat quickly found the ‘Elvie’. The lifeboat then brought the vessel back to Whitby Harbour where they were met by the Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team. Graham Dawson, Humber Coastguard Watch

A teenage surfer was rescued from the water at Saltburn-by-the-Sea this afternoon after Skinningrove Coastguard Rescue Team donned water rescue equipment and recovered her to the shore. The coastguard rescue team were in the area after responding to another incident on the cliffs nearby when they were made aware of a female that had got into difficulty and was unable to make it back to the beach at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.  At the same time, several 999 calls were made to the operations room at Humber Coastguard to report the incident, including from the concerned father of the 17-year-old girl.  Humber Coastguard requested the launch of the Redcar RNLI lifeboat to assist.  Meanwhile, Skinningrove Coastguard donned water rescue equipment and waded into the breakers with a spare lifejacket to recover the surfer.  The teenage surfer was brought ashore exhausted and reunited with her family. Drew Mahood, Watch Manager, Humber Coastguard said: “The father of the teenage surfer di

Brixham Coastguard coordinated a search this afternoon for a missing diver who had been diving the wreck of the Benton Castle in Start Bay but did not return to the dive boat. The diver was reported missing to Brixham Coastguard at midday today by crew on board the dive boat.  They had searched the area for half an hour looking for the missing male diver before raising the alarm.  Brixham Coastguard requested the coastguard helicopter from Portland perform an airborne search of the area, also requesting the launch of the Dartmouth and Torbay RNLI lifeboats and sending coastguard rescue teams from Dartmouth and Berry Head to perform shoreline searches.  A Mayday relay broadcast asking any vessels in the area to keep a sharp lookout was also issued, with several other vessels in the area joining in the search. David Colmer, Watch Manager, Brixham Coastguard said: “Following a final sweep of the search area by the helicopter and lifeboats the search for the missing diver has

Following the discovery of the liferaft still on board the wreck of the ‘Purbeck Isle’ the Coastguard coordinated search for the two remaining crew members from the vessel has now been stood down. The search for the vessel, which was reported missing at 17.39 on Thursday, had continued this morning, with Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat covering a large search area in Lyme Bay.  At this stage, Coastguards were still working on the possibility that the remaining two missing crew members could have taken to the on board liferaft, but would not have had the ability to call for help.  At 11.00 this morning, the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) on board the survey vessel ‘Odyssey Explorer’ was able to enter an area of the wreck of the ‘Purbeck Isle’ and locate the liferaft, thereby confirming that it had not been deployed. Dorset Police now have primacy for this incident, and together with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch will continue to investigate. Portland Coastguard Rescu

SEARCH FOR FISHING VESSEL AND THREE CREW. At 17.39, this evening Portland Coastguard received a telephone call from a fisherman with concern for another fishing boat. The fisherman raised the alarm after concern was raised by their buyers who had not been able to contact the fishing vessel Purbeck Isle DH104 Portland Coastguard commenced a search for the overdue fishing vessel and it’s three crew. The Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Portland was requested, Portland Bill Coastguard rescue team were called out and the Weymouth RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch. The NCI at Portland Bill are also assisting. The FV Betty G II from Weymouth has also been assisting in the search. Portland Coastguard has made VHF radio broadcasts to alert other vessels of the search and also to request any vessels that could assist in the search. That request was responded to by two Royal Navy vessels, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler, and HMS York, a type 42 Destroyer, and

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that 12 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during March 2012 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were two new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during April 2012 and ten vessels remained under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 3.31% this is slightly up from Marchs twelve month rate. Out of the detained vessels four were registered with a flag state listed on the Paris MOU white list, six were registered with a flag state on the grey list none were registered with a flag state on the black list and two were unregistered. 1.In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldsons Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (2009/16/EC as amended), the

The operation to remove the wreck of the cargo ship MV Carrier, which ran aground near Llanddulas, North Wales, was completed this week. It has taken contractors, PGC, less than six weeks to remove the wreck and all scrap materials from the vessel have now been removed from the site. However residual work to make the site, and immediate surrounding area, safe for public use will need completion. Speed restrictions on the A55 will remain in place and the cycle path closed until a full safety assessment is made next week. Although there was a small release of diesel fuel at the time of the incident, tests conducted on marine life, mussels and starfish from various locations by the Environment Agency Wales have been analysed throughout the operation and have found no traces of contamination. The vessel was carrying a cargo of limestone and had bunkers onboard of 40,000 litres of marine diesel fuel at the time of the incident. Holyhead Coastguard coordinated the rescue of the

Following an overnight search of Swanage Bay, a yacht skipper was found in the sea but later declared deceased after setting out for shore from a yacht in a tender. At 11.46pm on Wednesday night, Portland Coastguard received a 999 call from crew members of the 47 foot sailing yacht Musketeer of Stutton who were on the beach at Studland awaiting the skipper of Musketeer to return them to the vessel by inflatable dinghy after an evening ashore. They reported that the dinghy had not returned after earlier transferring some other crew members back to the yacht. They were concerned that the outboard engine may have broken down and the tender with the skipper on board was now drifting across Poole Bay. Swanage RNLI All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats, the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Lee on Solent, Swanage & Poole Coastguard Rescue Teams and Dorset Police searched along the shoreline and the water in Poole and Studland Bays. An upturned inflatable dinghy was found marked with the name

Aberdeen Coastguard can confirm that a helicopter has been forced to ditch into the North Sea 30 miles east of Aberdeen. 14 people on board have been confirmed to be in a liferaft and rescue units are now on scene. Aberdeen Coastguard was alerted at 12.15pm that a Bond helicopter was on route from Aberdeen to Maersk Resilient and then onwards to ENSCO 102, (jack up drilling rigs) when they broadcast an alert that they were forced to ditch the aircraft into the sea.

Belfast Coastguard have ended their search for the child reported to have gone overboard from a ferry in Belfast Lough at 6pm last night. Control of the incident has now been passed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The Coastguard will assist the Police with another search of the shoreline at low water tonight. The RNLI lifeboat from Bangor will also search the lough and vessels coming in and out of the harbour are asked to keep a sharp lookout.

At 06.30am Falmouth Coastguard received a call from the MRCC Turku, Finland. The Finnish Coastguard reported to Falmouth that they had received a satellite telephone call from a sailor aboard a Finnish registered yacht reporting that himself and a friend were in a distress situation aboard their 35 foot yacht. The yacht and the two sailors departed the Azores on the 7th May. Their position is 840 nautical miles from the Isles of Scilly which is within the search and rescue region of the United Kingdom. Falmouth Coastguard are coordinating the incident to rescue the two men. A broadcast was made by Falmouth using EGC (Enhanced Group Calling) via satellite to all ships that may be near to the distressed yacht. They received several responses from commercial ships who offered assistance. Two tankers that were nearest have been requested to divert to the last known position of the yacht to help the sailors. They are the Stolt Invention and the Norgas Invention. ARCC Kinloss made arrangemen

Belfast Coastguard is continuing to coordinate a search for a missing child who is believed to have fallen from a ferry in bound to Belfast from Scotland. Last night the Coastguard received a call from a ferry reporting that two people were in the water in Belfast Lough. One person was recovered by the pilot boat at 6.25 pm, 15 minutes after the alarm was raised and was taken to hospital. Last nights search involved RNLI lifeboats from Bangor and Donaghadee, an Irish Rescue helicopter, police helicopter, fast rescue craft from two ferries, tugs and a pilot boat. Coastguard rescue teams from Bangor and Portmuck also searched the shoreline of Belfast Lough. This search of Victoria Channel and Belfast Lough was suspended at 10pm last night and resumed at first light this morning with RNLI lifeboats from Bangor and Donaghadee, three Police Rhibs, the fishery protection vessel Banrion Uladh and harbour patrol boats. Coastguard rescue teams from Port Muck and Bangor will also resume their sh

Three men were rescued from an angling boat they had just bought when it broke down in the Menai Strait. Holyhead Coastguard received a 999 phone call from one of the men on board the 28 foot boat at just after midnight today. He explained that the engine had cut out and they were drifting towards rocks. Because the crew weren’t sure exactly where they were Penmon, Bangor and Llandwrog Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to the area. The RNLI inshore lifeboat from Beaumaris and the All weather lifeboat from Porthdinllaen were asked to attend alongside the RAF rescue helicopter from Valley. Using the blue flashing lights from Coastguard vehicles Holyhead Coastguard were able to establish their exact location. The crew were lifted to safety and taken to hospital by the rescue helicopter. The Beaumaris lifeboat towed their vessel ashore to Caernarfon. Barry Priddis Holyhead Watch Manager said: “This crew had recently bought to boat but what they hadn’t acquired were waterproof

A man was rescued from mud this afternoon after his stepfather called the coastguard to say his stepson had become stuck in mud whilst walking towards Flamborough and the sea was only two metres away. Humber Coastguard received the 999 call at just after 4pm today. Coastguard Rescue teams from Filey, Bridlington, Scarborough and Burniston, who specialise in mud and cliff rescue, were sent to the scene and the RNLI lifeboats from Filey and Flamborough were asked to attend. The man was found in a very inaccessible location he was reached by a Coastguard Rescue Team from Filey who managed to extract him from the mud. Because of the incoming tide he had to be evacuated by sea and so was taken by lifeboat to the shore at Filey where he received medical assistance. Graham Dawson Humber Coastguard Watch Manager said; “Incoming tides can create areas of quicksand and, like this afternoon, it’s a race against time for help to reach you before the tide comes in fully. “If you become stu

An early morning dog walk at Barton on Sea took an unexpected turn when a female dog walker became stuck in the mud at just after 9.30am today. Solent Coastguard were alerted to the incident just below Nash Farm Holiday Park by Hampshire Fire and Rescue. They sent specialist Coastguard Rescue mud extraction teams from Lymington and Southbourne to the scene and asked the RNLI Inshore lifeboat from Mudeford to attend. Using their specialist skills the Coastguard Rescue teams were able to extract the woman from the mud. She was brought ashore at Chewton Bunny by the RNLI lifeboat where she received medical attention from the ambulance service. The dog, who wasn’t stuck in the mud was brought ashore unharmed. Mike O’Sullivan Solent Coastguard Watch Manager said; “If you become stuck in mud try and spread your weight as much as possible. If you have a mobile phone dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. Avoid moving and stay as calm as you can. You should also discourage others

At just before 2pm yesterday Yarmouth Coastguard received a call from a member of the public reporting a possible explosive device on the beach, at Hopton, Norfolk, just below Potters Holiday Centre. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Lowestoft and Gorleston were sent to inspect it and reported that the object was 17 inches in length and 4 inches in diameter and was wedged into a metal sea defence below the high water mark. It was also partly covered in sand. Yarmouth Coastguard contacted the Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and forwarded them photos of the device taken by the Coastguard Rescue teams. They believe that it is Ordnance and so have arranged for an Army EOD team from Colchester to deal with the device. They are expected to be on scene at   midday today and the tide should be low enough for them to access the device by 1400 BST (actual Low water in the area 1600 BST). Because the device is close to the holiday centre, Police will be on scene with Coas

At just before 1pm Holyhead Coastguard received a 999 call from a vigilant member of the public reporting that two kayakers were in the water 1.5 miles off Point Lynas. The RNLI All-weather lifeboat from Moelfre and RAF rescue helicopter from Valley went straight to the scene. Holyhead Coastguard broadcast an alert to all vessels in the area. When the lifeboat and helicopter arrived on scene they found that a group of three kayakers, who had heard the broadcast,had gone to help the kayakers in difficulty. The second group of kayakers had a vhf radio and smoke flare with them and so were able to talk directly to the rescue helicopter and guide it in. Both kayakers were rescued from the sea by the helicopter. One needed medical attention and so was taken directly to hospital. The group of kayakers who went to help were met by Moelfre Coastguard Rescue Team and thanked for their assistance. Mark Craddock, Holyhead Coastguard Watch Manager said; “From this afternoon’s inciden

A man was transferred to hospital by helicopter today after sustaining a knee injury and being unable to make it back to shore in Earnse Bay on the western side of Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness. A member of the public contacted Liverpool Coastguard at 5.40 pm to let them know that they could see a man and a dog approximately half a mile out, surrounded by water at the top of Earnse Bay.     He observed that the man looked to be struggling but was not making his way back to the shore or out of the water. Liverpool Coastguard sent the Walney Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene, along with requesting the launch of the Duddon Inshore Lifeboat and scrambling a helicopter from RAF Valley.   Once the coastguard rescue team arrived on scene they reported that the man was face down in the water and appeared to be unresponsive.   At this point, Liverpool Coastguard also requested an ambulance attend.   The casualty was then brought ashore by the lifeboat and paramedics wo