HM Coastguard

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has announced that ten foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during September 2012 after failing Port State Control ( PSC ) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were six new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during September 2012 and four vessels remained under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 3.37% this is slightly up from   August’s twelve month rate. Out of the detained vessels seven were registered with a flag state listed on the Paris MOU white list, two were registered with a flag state on the grey list, none were registered with a flag state on the black list, one was unregistered and none were registered with a flag state that was not included on the Paris MOU white, grey or black lists. 1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry into the prev

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has been outlining its support for the shipping industry, which is estimated to be worth £5 billion to the UK economy.   Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the MCA, has been setting out how the Agency is striving to become the best maritime safety organisation in the world, and in turn offering as much support as possible to the industry.   In a speech last night to Maritime London, including industry leaders, lawyers, ship owners and operators, Sir Alan said: "We know that the shipping industry looks for a level playing field to compete fairly in a tough economic climate. You are right to demand high regulatory standards, applied consistently by our Marine Surveyors and Port State Control Officers.”   The MCA is now actively working to improve its processes, reduce red tape and make things quicker and less complicated.   During the speech, Sir Alan also made it clear that the MCA will take action if needed: "The

At a hearing today at Southampton Magistrates Court, the Master of a cargo vessel pleaded guilty to three offences brought under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1974, as amended (Colregs), and fined £1500 plus costs of £1000. The Spring Bok is 12,113 gross ton Refrigerated Cargo Ship (Reefer) registered in the Netherlands . On the 24 March 2012 she was on passage from Rotterdam to Aruba and was traveling in the South West lane of the Dover Straits Traffic Separation Scheme. A small liquid gas carrier was also heading south west and traveling at 7-8 knots while the Spring Bok was transiting at 18-20 knots.   At approximately 1014 utc, the Spring Bok ran into the stern of the Gas Carrier.   An investigation into the collision was started. Captain Robert Koningstein was the Officer of the Watch of the Spring Bok. The visibility in the Dover Straits had been poor but had improved to about 2.5 miles off Dungeness. After the visibility had increased

The Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team and Her Majesty's Coastguard as a whole is celebrating, after receiving a Pride of Britain award. Coastguard Rescue Officers Colin Lodge and Chris Hornsey, alongside members of the RNLI, received the Daybreak Emergency Services Award last night. It’s for their efforts on 30 September 2011, when Humber Coastguard coordinated a rescue mission to save 17-year-old Neil Robson, who’d become stuck in the sand off Seaton Carew. The Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team, led by Officer in Charge (OIC), Billy Spurs, was first to arrive on scene following a 999 call. Chris and Colin made their way into the water and were quickly joined by the lifeboat crew. It became apparent that scraping and digging the sand under the weight of the water was impossible and the OIC requested the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service which supplied a high power hose to blast the sand. Neil was freed with his head just above the water and the tide still rising.

Solent Coastguard has been coordinating the search for a man this evening, after his yacht was found ashore near Brighstone, Isle of Wight. A member of the public reported that the yacht ‘Brigand’ was ashore with one of its sails up and the engine still running at 5.15 pm this evening. The yacht had no-one aboard. An air, land and sea search involving the two Coastguard helicopters from Portland and Lee on Solent, Yarmouth and Mudeford RNLI lifeboats, Freshwater SSRO inshore and all weather lifeboats and Lymington, Needles, Southbourne and Swanage Coastguard Rescue Teams began shortly after the yacht was found. Broadcasts were also made by Solent Coastguard to all passing vessels to keep a sharp look out for any objects in the water. Solent Coastguard Watch Manager David Williams says: “We have searched for nearly five hours this evening for the one person who we believe to have been skippering the yacht, but sadly, no sign has been found of him. We understand that h

At a hearing yesterday at Torquay Magistrates Court, the owner of a former fishing vessel was found guilty of two offences under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Perry Britton was convicted of charge brought under s284 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 for allowing the Greitje to ‘jump detention’.   He was also found guilty of one charge brought under s260 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 for failing to respond to a Direction Order.   He was fined £500 plus costs of £250. The former fishing vessel Grietje had arrived in Brixham Harbour in 2005 but plans to convert her into a houseboat came to nought.   Her condition deteriorated and the Greitje was detained as dangerously unsafe by the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency).   Over the following years new owners came and went but nothing was done to rectify the poor condition of the Greitje.   Eventually the vessel was seized by the local harbour authorities and offered for sale.   The vessel was bought for £1 by 56-year-old Perry

Two fishermen have been rescued after the fishing vessel Snowdonia sank approximately 12 miles east of Kilkeel Harbour on the County Down coast. Belfast Coastguard received a call from the fishing vessel Tribute reporting that they had recovered two fishermen from the water. The RNLI lifeboat from Kilkeel and the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopter were sent to the scene.   The crew of Kilkeel Inshore Lifeboat were quickly on scene and provided first aid until the arrival of the Irish Helicopter. The two crew were airlifted to Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry where they are currently being assessed. Gary Young, Watch Manager Belfast Coastguard, said: “This incident has again proved the importance of wearing a lifejacket and having it maintained to a high standard.  "I would like to pass on my thanks to the professionalism of the lifeboat and helicopter crews." The Maritime and Coastguard Agency recommends that commercial fisherman should wear a p

Shetland Coastguard has been coordinating a major search and rescue operation after a helicopter ditched off the coast 15 miles west of Fair Isle this afternoon. There were 19 people on board, all of which have now been accounted for. Three RNLI lifeboats (Kirkwall, Aith and Lerwick) went to the scene, along with the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter from Stornoway, RAF Lossiemouth, and the Bond rescue helicopter from Sumburgh. A vessel in the area at the time - the Nord Nightingale - launched its fast rescue craft. This rescued the 19 people from their liferaft and brought them back to the tanker. From here they were flown by the RAF helicopter and Bond helicopter back to Kirkwall. It’s believed the helicopter was on its way from Aberdeen to West Phoenix drilling rig.

Colin Lodge and Chris Hornsey, along with members of the RNLI, have today been announced as the winners for the Daybreak Emergency Services Award, part of the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards. It’s for their heroics on 30 September 2011, when Humber Coastguard co-ordinated a rescue mission to save 17-year-old Neil Robson, who’d become stuck in the sand off Seaton Carew. But the rescuers were facing a race against time, as the tide was coming in fast. The Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team, led by Officer in Charge, Billy Spurs, was first to arrive on scene following a 999 call. Chris and Colin made their way into the water and were quickly joined by the lifeboat crew. It became apparent that scraping and digging the sand under the weight of the water was impossible and the OIC requested the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Service which supplied a high power hose to blast the sand. Neil was freed with his head just above the water and the tide still rising. Chris sai