HM Coastguard

UK Coastguard is currently assisting Kent Police as Phase 3 of Operation Stack was implemented and temperatures soared throughout the day. Birling gap, Bexhill, Dungeness, Langdon, Margate and Sheppy Coastguard Rescue Teams are all helping with the distribution of food and water to lorry drivers who are currently queuing on the M20, Kent. Delays are due to continue and the port of Calais is expected to remain closed until Thursday, due to industrial action. Tracy Hawke-Treneer, Watch Officer, Dover Coastguard said: “We are currently helping Kent Police to distribute food and water. As an emergency service we have the capability to respond to major incidents when needed, however this does not impact on our maritime search and rescue response capabilities. “The teams will be working into the night to make sure that people are receiving food and drinks. “Work will resume in the early hours of the morning to continue to distribute sustenance as it arrives.”

Rodney the dog and his owner were rescued this morning after Rodney chased another dog over a cliff. Rodney's owner attempted to rescue him himself but they both got stuck. The Swanage Coastguard Rescue Team, backed up by St Albans Coastguard Rescue Team rescued them both and brought them back to the top of the cliffs. If you're taking your dog out along the top of cliffs stay away from the edges, they can be crumbly or slippery when wet. Keep your dog on a lead along cliff tops. And don't attempt to rescue a dog which is being swept out to sea or stuck on cliffs. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

If you saw the Coastguard helicopter near Ventnor at around 2.30pm this afternoon it’s because there was a yacht aground close to Ventnor Haven – the independent lifeboat from Sandown and the RNLI lifeboat from Bembridge worked to pull the yacht off to sea. Ventor Coastguard Rescue Team and the Coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent were on scene to provide help if needed. The helicopter also medically evacuated one person with a head injury from the race and one lifeboat person was medically evacuated by the Coastguard helicopter based at Portland. At time of posting (as the race is drawing to a conclusion) the 16 lifeboats have helped rescue one man overboard and medically evacuated 2 head injuries, 1 person with sea sickness and 1 person with a broken arm from the race. The picture below is of the Coastguard operations race hub at the National Maritime Operations Centre. The team here would like to thank Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team, Southampton Coastguard Rescue

AIS picture of Round the Isle Race from National Maritime Operations Centre 11:40 27th June 2015 #raceforall

A diver has been airlifted by a Coastguard helicopter to the recompression chamber at Poole, Dorset this afternoon following a rapid ascent from a dive two miles south of Lyme Regis. The National Maritime Operations Centre received a Pan Pan (urgency) broadcast from a dive vessel at 10.20 this morning reporting that the diver was having breathing difficulties after suffering a rapid ascent. The Coastguard helicopter from Portland was scrambled and airlifted the diver to the recompression chamber. The  Poole Coastguard Rescue Team manned the landing site at the hospital. Mark Rodaway, Duty Commander at the National Maritime Operations Centre says: “Speed is of the essence in rapid ascent incident and the dive boat did exactly the right thing in broadcasting a pan pan message on channel 16 as soon as the diver began exhibiting symptoms of decompression sickness. “As we move into the diving season I’d like to take this opportunity to remind divers to dive within their cap

AIS picture released by the National Maritime Operations Centre of 1584 yachts with 16,000 crew rounding the Needles off the Isle of Wight. #raceforall

My colleagues around the country have been given you advice on what to check on your boat to make sure it’s safe to go on the water and I want to talk to you about the checks you should make each time you plan to set to sea. The first thing I want to talk about is SOLAS V (Safety Of Life At Sea, Chapter 5) and the COLREGS (Collison Regulations).  These are laws that relate to you and you must be familiar with them, they help to keep you and other people safe at sea.  I’ve include the links to both at the bottom of the page for you. Next is a question you should ask yourself, ‘does someone know where I’m going and when I will return?’  You should always tell someone so they can alert my colleagues in the UK  Coastguard if you don’t come back when expected. Make sure that you are able to call for help if you need it, check that your radio works and your flares are in date each time you plan to set out and of course, wear your lifejacket when on deck. Check the weather an

It should have been a special evening, for couples wanting a night out to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Instead it ended with a dramatic rescue involving the Coastguard Rescue Team from Lymington. Last night, the team were honoured for their efforts that night at the Marine Café, Milford-on-Sea during the Valentine’s Day storm of 2014 with a Commendation from the Chief Coastguard. And fittingly, perhaps, the presentation took place at the Café where it all happened 14 months ago. Hilary Durkan, Senior Coastal Operations Officer said, “Being back at the Marine Café made the events of the 14 th of February 2014, seem like a lifetime ago! The Café looks fantastic again now, a far cry from the dark, wet place with smashed in windows and sea water rushing all around” During the incident last year the wind hurled shingle up from the beach and smashed the ground floor windows and glass doors allowing sea water to flood in . The customers and staff moved upstairs while waiting t

Aberdeen Coastguard have been coordinating a Search today, following a report received of an Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) distress alert. Fraserburgh lifeboat was on scene along with a Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Inverness and a number of commercial vessels in the area. However after 4 hours of searching and further investigations by Aberdeen Coastguard the (EPIRB) was tracked back to the vessel it originated from. Upon further investigation Aberdeen Coastguard discovered that the beacon had been accidentally thrown overboard, with no emergency situation occuring. Ross Greenhill, Coastal Operations Area Commander, said “Her Majesty’s Coastguard would like to urge all seafarers to dispose of their emergency beacons and flares in a safe and responsible manner, either return to the manufacturer or follow the instructions given on receipt of the device. For further advice on the correct disposal of this type of emergency equipment

Coastguards in north Cornwall are hoping to reunite a kayak with its owner. The yellow Teksport kayak was found submerged near Pentire Point this morning, initially causing concern for where its owner might be and sparking a search. Polzeath and Padstow Coastguard Rescue Teams were involved in looking for the possible owner, along with Rock, Port Isaac, Padstow lifeboats. Alex Greig, Senior Maritime Operations Officer at Falmouth Coastguard said, ‘We carried out a thorough search of the area and have found no evidence this is anything other than a kayak coming loose from somewhere.’ ‘There’s nothing in the kayak to indicate where it’s from. We’d like to get it back to the owner - they can contact us on 01326 317575.’

Adam and Ross Mainprize are part of the Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team. Here they tell us about what it’s like to be a father and son on a Coastguard Rescue Team. Adam: ‘Being a father and son on a Coastguard Rescue Team is great’ “I love the outdoors; getting out and about, helping people, and having the opportunity to be more practical.  Joining a coastguard rescue team is the best thing that I ever did.  It’s really helped me to develop as an individual and learn new skills. When I first started out with the team and I was out on the cliff top on an exercise Ross used to turn up on his moped to watch. So it was no surprise that when he was old enough he decided to join up too. It’s been great to watch him grow into the young man that he is today. He’s a really active member of the team and is always putting himself forward for Coastguard tasks. Ross had only been part of the team for about a month when we went to the Lions Carnival to man a Coastguar

A mayday call was received tonight from a large motorboat in Osborne Bay, Isle of Wight. One person was flown to hospital by the Coastguard Rescue helicopter based at Lee on Solent. Two other people were rescued from the water by a passing yacht. These two people received medical attention but appear to be uninjured. Assistance was also given at the scene by the RNLI lifeboat based at Cowes, Gosport Independent Lifeboat, the South West Ambulance Service and Hampshire Constabulary. Newport Coastguard Rescue Team provided a safe landing site for the helicopter. The MAIB have been informed.

A company which pleaded guilty to a breach of regulations covering health and safety of workers has been fined £160,000. Technip UK Limited admitted a breach of regulation 5 of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today. In  March 2009, David Stephenson was working as rigger on the diving support vessel the Wellservicer, a UK-flagged ship operated by Technip UK Limited. The vessel had left the Netherlands and was returned to Aberdeen. She stopped three miles outside of the harbour for trials and tests which included testing of the forward bell. On 1 st  April it was found that there was a problem with the buoyancy blocks attached to the dive bell. These were found to be touching the cursor frame and so preventing the frame from fully engaging with the dive bell. At about 1745 hours, within the bell hanger area, Mr Stephenson put on a safety harness and a fall arrestor which clips onto the cu

It’s a propeller from a U-boat that sank 100 years ago. And this week it’s been handed back from the country that sank it to the country that built it. A hundred years on from a war that raged across Europe and cost millions of lives, it’s a reminder of how far the two nations have come. In March 1915, the U-8 was sunk in the channel. All its crew was rescued and crowds gathered to watch them being brought ashore. The U-boat remained at the bottom of the channel but its propeller was discovered in 2 Jan Hackstein, German Naval Attache Pic: BAE Systems 014 along with other historical items which had been illegally recovered in the Kent area. Now the propeller is going home. And Jan Hackstein, the German Naval Attaché, who attended the handover says it’s a sign of reconciliation and friendship between the UK and Germany. ‘Although the German public is still a bit reserved about the armed forces, we see a rising historic interest.  'The centenary of World War O

The master of a cruise liner, which was damaged going over rocky shoals has pleaded guilty to two charges at Belfast Magistrates court today (16 th  June). Captain Joao Manuel Fernandes Simoes (58) pleaded guilty to failure to properly passage plan in breach of SOLAS and failure to report the incident contrary to the Merchant Shipping vessel traffic monitoring and reporting requirement regulations. On 11 th  May 2015 the Bahamas registered cruise liner mv Hamburg called in to Tobermory enroute from Dublin to Hamburg. The Bay could not be entered on arrival as there were already two other cruise liners so the Hamburg remained outside about two miles to the North East of the popular port. The call to enter came at around 1pm and a course was set direct to the port. The track took the ship close to a starboard hand channel buoy, but the approach was from the north of the buoy, not the west, over rocky shoals.  The port side grazed along the side of the rocks and the propeller st

A brass propeller from the first U-Boat to be sunk a century ago has been given back to the country it belongs to. The propeller, from the German submarine U-8, was handed over by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to members of the current Navy. A handover ceremony took place on the German Naval vessel Karlsruhe which was alongside in Portsmouth Naval Base. Head of Coastal operations for the MCA, Charles Ball, said: ‘This shows how times have changed. We can transfer this historical artefact back to our friends, not just in commemoration of the sacrifices suffered by both nations, but also in celebration of what we have achieved since then.’ Jan Hackstein, the German Naval Attaché, said, ‘It is a wonderful sign of reconciliation and friendship  between the United Kingdom and Germany that the propeller returns after hundred years.’ The propeller was recovered along with other historical items following a number of seizures of illegally recovered dive artefacts in t

A diver who failed to correctly declare where he found historic cannons dating back to the 1600s has pleaded guilty to fraud in excess of £46,000. Vincent Woolsgrove from Ramsgate in Kent, said he had found three 24lb cannons off North Foreland which were originally from the City of Amsterdam. The cannons were originally part of a battery of 36 produced in Amsterdam to protect the city in the early part of the 17 th century and assigned to Dutch ships during the first Anglo-Dutch war in 1652 – 54. Mr Woolsgrove was originally awarded the title of the three cannons as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was unable to prove at that time that they were property of the crown. The cannons were sold at auction to an American buyer for a sum in excess of £50,000 and are now part of a private collection in Florida. However, a joint operation in 2011 by the MCA, Kent & Essex police and Historic England (formerly English Heritage), found fresh information about heritage

The UK Coastguard is currently coordinating the search for a vessel which may be in distress and taking water somewhere in the   Newhaven   area.   The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Lee on Solent, Newhaven RNLI Lifeboat and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team are all searching for signs of the missing vessel  and are being supported by Newhaven NCI .  The Coastguard has also broadcast a message requesting further information from all shipping.   Jonathan Mustard,   Maritime Operations Specialist  for UK Coastguard said:   “We received a broken message via VHF​ radio this afternoon at about 2.30 pm that a vessel needed assistance because it had a hole in its side and was taking water. Since that time we have had no further communication with the vessel.   “If members of the public think that they may have further information about the vessel involved they should contact the Coastguard on 02392 552100.”    

A man who got into difficulties swimming under Brighton Pier this morning (13th June) has been taken to hospital after being pulled from the sea by a Coastguard rescue swimmer. The UK Coastguard received the call at 7.05am (BST) from a friend of the man saying he had lost sight of the 21-year-old man. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newhaven and Shoreham were tasked to search for the man, along with RNLI lifeboats from Brighton and Newhaven, and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Solent. A senior  Coastguard officer was also on scene. Police were also involved and Southern Central Ambulance Service. Following a comprehensive search of the area, the man was found within 45 minutes and brought ashore by a Coastguard rescue swimmer and the Brighton lifeboat. The man has been taken to hospital. His condition is not known at this time. Steven Mann, Senior Maritime Operations Officer from the National Maritime Operation Centre in Fareham which co-ordinated the search

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is celebrating the news that Captain Amir Esmiley has been awarded an MBE. Amir said: “I am delighted to be honoured in this way. It’s also a reflection of the great work done by all the MCA Surveyors and surveying staff across the UK to keep people safe while at sea.” Amir had an extensive merchant shipping seagoing career, working his way through the ranks before being awarded his Class 1 Certificate of Competency and a Master’s Degree in Ship Production Technology.  He joined the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 1994 as a Marine Surveyor. Before long he was promoted to the role of Principal Surveyor. Amir has had a variety of roles within the Agency, including acting as the Secretary of States Representative’s Marine Casualty Officer when required and he is currently Principal Surveyor and Area Operations Manager. During his career, Amir has attended a number of vessels in difficulties. Most notably Amir’s calm and professional actions on

A skipper who pleaded guilty to charges including failing to keep a proper look out has been fined more than £5,000. Malcolm Edmund, who is skipper of the fishing vessel Sapphire Stone was charged following a collision with another fishing vessel Karen causing its loss. On 22 nd  January 2014, the fishing vessel Karen was coming to the end of a four hour tow to the south east of the Island of Arran, when she was struck astern by the Sapphire Stone. Sapphire Stone had just brought its final haul for the day aboard and was bound for Campbeltown for the night. Skipper of the Karen, John Muir said she went down by the stern so quickly that the crew did not have time to get their lifejackets from the cabin. The crew managed to launch the life raft but in the choppy seas it overturned and all three found themselves in the water. Mr Muir managed to right the raft and they all got in. Meanwhile, the Sapphire Stone had managed to get alongside the life raft and recovered al

A sailor was rescued on Saturday night from mud up to his shoulders at Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey in Kent. Just before 10pm, the Coastguard was contacted by Kent Fire & Rescue reporting that a 74 year old gentleman had sunk into deep mud about a quarter of a mile from the shore.  Sheppey and Medway Coastguard Rescue Teams with mud rescue equipment were sent to the scene to assist Kent Fire & Rescue Service. Sheerness RNLI lifeboat and Southend RNLI rescue hovercraft were also on scene.  The male was recovered to his vessel by the Fire Service Mud Team before being transferred into the care of the Ambulance service by the lifeboat, suffering from the cold but otherwise uninjured. His wife was recovered to a waiting ambulance by Southend Hovercraft. The man got into difficulty after trying to set his anchor having run aground earlier in the evening.  His wife, still on the grounded yacht raised the alarm and was able to maintain communications with the Coastguard via VHF Chann

At 2.05pm Belfast Coastguard was alerted by Police Service Northern Ireland, (PSNI) to an incident in the River Foyle involving two large capsized canoes with 26 people in the water. Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the area and the Coastguard requested lifeboats from Foyle Search & Rescue, the Irish Coastguard rescue helicopter and Irish Coastguard boat from Greencastle.  Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service also joined the search and rescue operation. Lifeboats recovered 26 adults from the water and 12 people were transferred to hospital by helicopter and also by Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to be checked for hypothermia.   The group of 26 adults had got into difficulty after their two large canoes capsized.   Notes to Editor Safety Advice for Sea canoeing / kayaking: Ensure that someone at home knows your passage plan including points of arrival and departure, timescale, number in group and other relevant information. Check weather forecasts and ti

Water. Safety. Rescue. Three words that matter to Coastguards and something every new volunteer learns about. And hearing the stories of those who have been at the heart of such rescues makes you understand why. Volunteers from the Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team were called in 2011 to rescue someone who was in two metre high waves. The team spread out along a wall in a bid to find him and soon spotted him.  At that point, Coastguard Rescue Officer Ian Deakin made his way into the water.  ‘When I entered the water the waves were twice my height,’ he said. ‘I needed the whole team to tell me where the casualty was in the water.’ His colleague CRO Peter Leonard said it was frightening to think what would have happened without the Coastguard Rescue Team or the paramedics. ‘The seas were horrendous. We were at the point of pulling Ian back in when we spotted the casualty and signalled to Ian.  As soon as he had hold of him, he gave the signal and we pulled Ian a

Specialists are to be winched onto a car carrier which suffered a fire on one of its decks last night (2 nd  June) 40 miles off Harwich. The Courage reported the fire to the UK Coastguard at Dover Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre just before 10 o’clock last night. Crew members used an inbuilt CO2 system to flood a large area which they believed had put the fire out and continued their journey. The situation is currently contained. Dover Coastguard put the RAF Wattisham helicopter on standby but it wasn’t needed. The vessel is now coming to Southampton (3 rd  June) where it is being monitored by the National Maritime Operations Centre. Experts from Hampshire Fire and Rescue service are being winched aboard to assess the situation.   Using the CO2 means the corridors and areas around the deck are now not accessible to the crew which is why the team are needed. The specialists from Hampshire Fire and Rescue assessment team will look at where the CO2 was use

Volunteers are often regarded and even portrayed as well-meaning amateurs.  It couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m thankful that this week gives us all an opportunity to thank all those who go that little bit further to make a difference around them. For me, a volunteer is someone is prepared to give above and beyond the norm for the sake of the community around them. For HM Coastguard, a volunteer is a highly-trained professional prepared to respond day or night to the call to respond to a 999 call. For the person in serious danger around our coastline, a volunteer is someone prepared to put their life on the line to save them. What our Coastguard Rescue Teams do matters. What each individual volunteer does matters. If you’re the person out of your depth in the sea waters, the Coastguard Rescue Team member swimming 70 metres out to get you isn’t a well-meaning amateur. He or she is the person who holds your life in their hands.  Ask the two people at