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Showing posts from July, 2014

KAYAKER RESCUED FROM THE SEA

A man has been rescued from the sea in Oxwich Bay , Gower this evening after his kayak capsized and sank. Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call at 8.35 pm via a member of the public who had met a kayaker who had paddled to shore to raise the alarm. His friend’s kayak had capsized and then sunk and he was now in the water. He was not wearing a buoyancy aid. Another kayaker had attempted to tow the kayaker whose vessel had capsized to shore but quickly had to abandon this attempt and gave him his buoyancy aid. Meanwhile, Swansea Coastguard requested the Horton RNLI inshore lifeboat to launch and sent the Oxwich Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene. The lifeboat quickly found the kayaker who was still in his boat safe and well. They searched for the second kayaker in the bay for 20 minutes and were eventually able to hear his calls for help and rescue him from the water as the light was fading. Swansea Coastguard’s Marc Lancey says: “We were very relieved that the lifeb

FISHERMEN RESCUED FROM LIFERAFT AFTER NINE HOURS AT SEA

Two fishermen are recovering this evening after spending the day at sea in a liferaft. They had been fishing 12 miles east of Sunderland when their vessel appeared to hit a submerged object and sank so quickly that they were unable to make a distress call. Their liferaft floated free of their vessel, as it is designed to do, and the pair were able to climb on board. At 4.40 pm, the Dutch yacht ‘Jager’ came across the fishermen in their liferaft. They took the two men on board their boat and contacted Humber Coastguard to inform them of what had happened. The Coastguard requested the Hartlepool RNLI Lifeboat to launch and they picked the two men up from the yacht and brought them to shore. Mike Puplett, Humber Coastguard Watch Manager said: “Both of the fishermen are now safe and well, although a little shaken by their ordeal. We’d like to thank the Dutch yacht ‘Jager’ which rescued the men and went out of their way to ensure their safety. “The fishing vessel’s life

TWO RESCUED FROM OUT OF CONTROL BOAT OFF EAST SUSSEX

Two people have been rescued after they were thrown from their boat which then started spinning dangerously around them in the water. Dover Coastguard received a 999 call just after 9am this morning from a member of the public who spotted the out of control RHIB with nobody in it just off shore from St. Leonards, East Sussex. The caller then reported that two people were in the water clinging on to a buoy about a ¼ mile off shore as the RHIB circled near them. The Hastings Coastguard Rescue Team plus the Hastings inshore RNLI lifeboat were sent to the scene. When they got there, they found the two people had managed to swim back to shore where they were met and looked after by the Coastguard rescue officers and an ambulance crew. It doesn’t appear that they suffered any injuries. The RHIB meanwhile was still circling just off shore but the crew of the lifeboat managed to bring it under control and cut off the engine. Nicola Goodban, Watch Manager at Dover Coastgua

COASTGUARD REMINDER AS MAN INJURED OFF RHOSSILI

People heading out on their boats this summer are being reminded of how to raise the alarm if they get into trouble. The advice comes as a man in his 50s was injured on a boat just off Worm’s Head at Rhossili. Swansea Coastguard received a call at around 3.30pm reporting that a man was complaining of back pain. The Rhossili Coastguard Rescue Team, the RAF rescue helicopter from Chivenor and Port Eynon RNLI beach lifeguards were sent to the scene. The injured man was brought back to shore by the boat, where he was then airlifted to Morriston hospital by the RAF helicopter. Marc Lancey, Watch Officer at Swansea Coastguard, said: “It appears this man was injured after the boat he was in had crashed down over a wave. We weren’t immediately contacted by this vessel, so we’d like to remind boaters that they should get in touch with us if they are hurt or get into difficulty. Carrying a VHF radio on your vessel is vital and VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) is strongly recommende

IT’S GOOD TO SHARE – BUT NOT LIFE JACKETS

They say it's good to share – but a rescue in the Humber earlier today proved that doesn't apply to lifejackets. Humber Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received a call just after 10am this morning reporting two people in the water after their powered canoe had capsized just west of the Humber Bridge. The Hull Coastguard Rescue Team, Humber Rescue Inshore Lifeboat and the police all attended and found one of the boat’s occupants clinging to his companion, who was the only one wearing a life jacket. The RAF search and rescue helicopter from Leconfield lifted the very cold canoeists aboard; they were put ashore and taken to Hull Royal Infirmary, where they were confirmed as well. Humber Coastguard Watch Manager, Graham Dawson, said: “Anyone taking to the water should always wear their own properly maintained life jacket or buoyancy aid.  If you capsize or fall in, there is never a guarantee that you will be able to find an object to cling

ONE MAN AND HIS DOG RESCUED FROM UNSEAWORTHY SAIL BOAT

A Coastguard-coordinated rescue in the Bristol Channel last night (Thursday 24 th ) has underlined the importance of ensuring a vessel is seaworthy and properly equipped before taking to the waves. Just before midnight, the Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre were contacted by the police who had received a call from a mariner, accompanied only by his dog, whose 17ft sailing boat had become stranded mid-Channel, just south of Lundy Island, after the outboard motor failed. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the vessel was one of the least seaworthy that Swansea Coastguards had encountered in a good while: its hull was leaking, the mast was missing, with an old windsurfing rig serving as a poor substitute; the boat had no lights, no VHF radio – the sailor contacted the emergency services on a mobile phone – and his GPS device wasn’t working, so he was unable to give his position.  Coastguards had to use onshore telecommunications beacons to estimate his lo

COASTGUARD SAFETY APPEAL AS HOT WEATHER CONTINUES

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Glorious sunshine and hot temperatures has seen the Coastguard deal with more than 2,500 incidents in the past month alone. From 21 June to 21 July this year, there were 2,549 incidents listed on the Coastguard database, ranging from struggling swimmers, cliff fallers to broken down boats and kayakers in difficulty. Now with the start of the school summer holidays, Coastguards are reminding people of a few top tips to help them stay safe and enjoy their time at the coast. Richard Martin, Chief Coastguard, said: “During this recent spell of good weather, we’ve seen a lot of people head to the beautiful UK coastline to enjoy the sunshine. The key thing to remember first of all is that if you see someone in difficulty, or you get into trouble yourself, call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard. “If you are heading out for a swim, remember that even though the sea may look calm on the surface, there is the danger of strong currents underneath. We recommend that you swim at

FISHING VESSEL SINKS OFF STORNOWAY

Three men were rescued from a life raft by Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Helicopter this evening. Stornoway Coastguard received a VHF DSC distress alert from the fishing vessel Osprey at 6.37pm which included a GPS location for the vessel.  Stornoway Coastguard sent the coastguard rescue helicopter to the scene and requested the launch of Lochinver RNLI all weather lifeboat to the incident 10 miles south west of Cape Wrath.   When the Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Helicopter arrived in the area they quickly located the vessel which was found within one mile of the distress alert position and still afloat.  The three crew were alongside in a life raft and the vessel sank shortly afterwards.  All three crew were winched into the aircraft and transferred to the Western Isles Hospital at Stornoway to be checked for hypothermia.

TEENAGER RESCUED FROM MUD AT CROSBY

A 17 year old girl has been rescued from mud up to her waist off the beach at Crosby. At 3.52pm Liverpool Coastguard was contacted by Crosby RNLi lifeguards reporting that a young person was trapped out in the mud approximately 100 feet from the shore.  Coastguard mud rescue teams were sent to the scene along with responders from Merseyside Fire and Rescue and the RNLI Hovercraft from New Brighton.  The crew of the hovercraft recovered the girl from the mud and the 17 year old was transferred to responders from Merseyside Ambulance Service.   Stuart Atkinson, Watch Manager at Liverpool Coastguard, said: Despite the warm and dry weather we’ve been having recently, there are still plenty of muddy patches along parts of our coastline that we need to keep a lookout for. If you do find yourself stuck though, try to spread your weight as much as possible, avoid moving and stay as calm as you can. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and we’ll get our specially trained teams out to you as

BOY RESCUED FROM QUICKSAND ON THE ISLE OF HARRIS

A 13-year old boy has been rescued by Coastguards after sinking in quicksand at Scarista Beach on the Isle of Harris.    Stornoway Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call at 3:40pm this afternoon that the young person was up to his face in sand that was compressing his chest. Tarbert and Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Teams and local Police and Fire and Rescue Services were mobilised to carry out the operation to extract him.   Jamie Ralston, Stornoway MRCC Manager said: “It was fortunate that we were able to reach this youngster in time. Coastguard advice is that if you do find yourself stuck in quicksand or mud, try to spread your weight as much as possible, avoid moving and stay as calm as you can. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and we’ll get our specially trained teams out to you as quickly as possible. Discourage others from attempting to rescue you, since without the proper equipment they could become stuck in the mud as well.” The Coastguar

WARM WEATHER SPARKS RISK SWIMMING

A man was rescued out to sea from Swansea beach this evening after swimming off shore after sunset. Swansea Coastguard received a 999 call at 9.30pm reporting that a friend had swum away from the shore at Swansea beach and had got into difficulty and they were losing sight of him.  They were worried because it was getting dark and they reported that he had been drinking alcohol during the day. Mumbles RNLI lifeboat and Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team were asked to attend and fortunately the lifeboat crew found the man clinging to an outfall post half a mile offshore.  Swansea Coastguard was able to stand down the rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor once the man was recovered. Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager Bev Haigh said: "The  man recovered today was lucky to be found just before complete darkness which makes a search at sea much more difficult.  After drinking alcohol your decision making is affected as well as your ability to swim so you are much more likely to get in

TWO PEOPLE AND A DOG RESCUED FROM MUD ALONG RIVER MERSEY

A man, a woman and their dog have been rescued by Coastguards after they became stuck up to their knees in mud at New Brighton. Liverpool Coastguard started taking 999 calls from members of the public at about 2.40pm this afternoon reporting that the group were in difficulty near the Egremont Promenade. The Hoylake and Crosby Coastguard Rescue Teams, along with two Coastguard sector managers, were sent to the scene. The fire boat and specialist Merseyside fire units were  also asked to attend. When rescue teams arrived, they found that the couple were stuck up to their knees not far from the river and were struggling to move. The dog was also unable to free itself. Using their specialist equipment, Coastguards were able to dislodge the mud around each of them and free their legs. They weren’t badly hurt, but the woman was taken to hospital to be checked over. Stuart Atkinson, Watch Manager at Liverpool Coastguard, said: “Despite the warm and dry weather we’ve bee

12 FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING JUNE 2014

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has announced that 12 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during June 2014 after failing Port State Control ( PSC ) inspection. During June, there were 7 new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in UK ports.   Five vessels remained under detention from previous months. Six vessels were released during June.  A total of 6 vessels remained under detention at the end of June. 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 (2009/16/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month. 2. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held