Displaying items by tag: Coastguard
#COASTGUARD - Staff from the Clyde coastguard in Scotland will go on strike late tonight in protest at the threatened closure of their station.
As the Clydebank Post reports, the strike in the early hours from 3am to 4am begins a week-long series of walkouts over the British government's plans to streamline the national coastguard network.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the control centre at Greenock is set to be scrapped with the loss of 31 jobs, while River Clyde rescues will in future be handled from Northern Ireland.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents Maritime and Coastguard Agency employees, says that the closure of coastguard units around the UK coastline would result in the loss of local knowledge that may be key to saving lives.
The union's general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We have always had grave concerns about the government's proposals to cut coastguard stations and staff, and we know this is shared by people in our coastal communities."
Last week campaigners in Merseyside launched an e-petition to stop the closure of Liverpool's search and rescue base, which covers North West England and much of the Irish Sea.
#RESCUE – A successful search was undertaken this afternoon for two missing divers off the Copeland Islands at the entrance to Belfast Lough.
Belfast Coastguard received a VHF radio call on channel 16 at 12:20 pm this afternoon from the 'Ballyholme' dive club boat reporting that two divers were overdue whilst conducting a drift dive.
Belfast Coastguard put out a Mayday relay broadcast to all vessels in the area to assist in the search. A Rescue helicopter was scrambled via Dublin Coast Guard. RNLI all weather lifeboats from Donaghadee and Larne along with the inshore Bangor lifeboat were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Bangor were sent to conduct a coastal search in the vicinity of Orlock Point.
Gary Young, Watch Manager, Belfast Coastguard, says:
"Cobblers Den, a vessel on scene, located the two divers and assisted with their recovery from the water into Bangor lifeboat. The two divers were then transferred onto Donaghadee lifeboat to be medically assessed. The divers were reported as being fit and well and no further medical attention was required.
Belfast Coastguard would like to thank all the vessels that responded to the Mayday relay broadcast."
#COASTGUARD - Campaigners for the Liverpool coastguard are urging the public to sign an e-petition to stop the closure of the city's search and rescue base.
According to BBC News, the Liverpool station at Crosby is one of eight centres across the United Kingdom set to be shut as part of the British Government's reorganisation of the national coastguard network.
Twenty jobs are expected to be lost in the closure, which could see the base for the UK Maritime Operations Centre move to England's South Coast.
Belfast's coastguard command centre at Bregenz House in Bangor was saved from the same fate last summer, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, but concerns remain over its staffing levels.
Liverpool coastguard currently covers the area in North West England from the Dee Estuary to the Mull of Galloway in Scotland, as well as much of the Irish Sea beyond the Isle of Man.
Last weekend alone it responded to 56 incidents in a 48-hour period.
Local staff have expressed fear that consolidation will see the region served by coastguards with no familiarity with the area.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reiterated Shipping Minister Mike Penning's intention to "to create a resilient and fully networked national rescue co-ordination service".
The Liverpool coastguard e-petition is available via the campaign website at SaveLiverpoolCoastguard.org.
#COAST GUARD – Coast Guard skills were tested at the seventh Joint Search and Rescue Competition between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland in Youghal, Co Cork, at the weekend.
The purpose of the event is to increase the level of professionalism of all coast guard members on the island.
Twelve team members from each of the divisions from Dublin, Malin, Valentia and HM Coastguard in Northern Ireland competed.
Organisers say the games are another step in developing joint training programmes between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland.
Members of Dunmore East Coast Guard; Joanne Carroll and Martina McCarthy watching Derek Barrett on the climbing wall Photos: John Hennessy
Connie Heby, Achill Coast Guard, reaching new heights
Inter Divisional team C participating in the table top quiz
Dublin Coast Guard Team B, Joe Andrews, Fergus Kernan, Fran Conroy and Sarah Horan
Chris Reynolds, Director of IRCG, presenting the Captain Kirwan Cup to the overall winners of JSAR 2012, HM Coast Guard Team A, John Austin, Daniel McAuley, Gwenda Kenneally and Gareth McKeller, at the celebration dinner in the Quality Hotel, Redbarn, after the 7th annual JSAR 2012 competition
Mike Lee, OIC Youghal Coast Guard, handing over the JSAR flag to Frank Heidtke, Dingle Coast Guard Area Officer, who will be hosting next years competition
Chris Reynolds, Director of IRCG, Gerard O'Flynn, Manager Voluntary Services & Training at IRCG, Mike Lee, OIC Youghal Coast Guard and Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, chief executive of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Search Ongoing in Belfast Lough for Missing Baby
#FERRY BABY – 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 night's 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 shoreline search at 8am.
Steve Carson, Belfast Coastguard watch Manager says:
"There was an extensive search last night that sadly did not find the missing child so we are looking again for them this morning."
#COASTGUARD – Belfast Coastguard is co-ordinating the search for two people who were seen falling from a ferry in bound to Belfast from Scotland.
Earlier this evening Coastguards 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.
Bangor and Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat, an Irish Rescue helicopter, police helicopter, fast rescue craft from two ferries, tugs and a pilot boat are all engaged in a search for another missing person in the vicinity of Victoria Channel, Belfast Lough. Coastguard rescue teams from Bangor and Portmuck are also searching the shoreline of Belfast Lough.
Ian Murdoch, Belfast Coastguard watch Manager says:
"We have been searching for the second missing person for over two hours but sadly we have not found any sign of them so far."
#COASTGUARD - Youghal in Co Cork will host the seventh Joint Search and Rescue (JSAR) competition between the Irish Coast Guard and HM Coastguard Northern Ireland this coming weekend 11-13 May.
The contest is organised by the volunteers of the Youghal Coast Guard unit, and aims to increase the level of awareness of all coast guard members in the island of Ireland, as well as enhance co-operation between services.
Twelve teams from each of Ireland's four coastguard divisions of Dublin, Malin, Valentia and Northern Ireland will take part. A wide range of skills will be tested, from leadership to search planning and co-ordination, chart work, knots, communications and salvage pumping.
The competition also provides a forum for the national maritime SAR management to discuss policy in an informal and friendly environment, and for volunteers from both jurisdictions to exchange their experiences.
Youghal Online has more on the story HERE.
#COASTGUARD - The Irish Coast Guard has ended its search for a ferry passenger believed to be missing off the coast of Wexford, as the Irish Examiner reports.
The alarm was raised early yesterday morning when the passenger, who had been travelling by coach on the Irish Ferries vessel Isle of Inishmore from Pembroke to Rosslare, was not on board the ferry on arrival in Wexford.
Though the coastguard has stood down its search, Gardaí at Rosslare were as of yesterday continuing to search the shoreline.
Coastguard Rescues Three Men from Angling Boat
#RESCUE – 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 clothing, lifejackets, flares or training in how to use a vhf radio. They also had no way of knowing where they were.
"Luckily there were in sight of land when the engine failed so they were able to make a mobile phone call but a fun fishing trip could easily have turned to tragedy.
"If you are buying a boat please think about the other equipment you'll need. We recommend that you wear a lifejacket at all times when on deck. These should be well maintained and have a sprayhood, light and whistle. You should also have DSC or vhf radio communications and know how to use it."
Second Cruiser in a Week Runs Aground in Lough Erne
#RESCUE - Four people were rescued on Lough Erne yesterday after their motor cruiser ran aground in the second such incident in a week, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
All on board were retrieved by RNLI lifeboat from the 29ft cruiser, which is believed to have stranded on rocks beyond the marked channel of the lough.
No injuries or damage to the vessel were reported, with a Northern Ireland Coastguard spokesperson describing it as "a routine rescue".
The coastguard blamed low water levels in the lough caused by lack of rainfall in Co Fermanagh.
Waterways Ireland has posted a marine notice warning boat users of the risks posed by "the extended period of unseasonal dry weather" for Ireland's inland waterways.
In a similar incident last Friday, three adults and two children were rescued from a cruiser that stranded in shallow water on the lough.
The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.