#RESCUE - The crew of a fishing vessel were rescued from a life raft last night after their fishing vessel 'Moyuna' ran aground at the entrance to Ardglass Harbour.

The 15 metre vessel was returning from a fishing trip when it hit the rocks. With the vessel listing at 30 degrees they broadcast a mayday alert on Channel 16 before the four crew took to the life raft. They were rescued from there by another fishing vessel 'The Three Coins'.

All four crew were brought ashore at Ardglass Harbour safe and well where the South Down Coastguard Rescue Team met them. The damage to the 'Moyuna' is now being assessed.

Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Alan Pritchard said:
"The crew did exactly the right thing in calling for assistance and taking to the life raft to wait for help to reach them.

"The MAIB have been informed and they will be investigating the circumstances that led to tonight's grounding. MCA's surveyors are also aware."

#COASTGUARD – A critical review will be conducted into the feasibility of a single transport safety body, comprising the Road Safety Authority, the Railway Safety Commission and the Maritime Directorate that includes the Coastguard.

The Maritime Safety Directorate (MSD) is comprised of two main sections; the Marine Survey Office (MSO) which includes the Marine Radio Affairs Unit (MRAU) and the Maritime Safety Policy Division.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar has confirmed proposals to reduce number of Departmental agencies today. It is part of Government plans to drive efficiencies in the public sector.

Further legislation will be published to combine the Sports Council with the National Sports Campus Development Agency. The new body will not be decentralised, and will instead be a key tenant at the Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

A separate critical review will be conducted of the roles of Dublin Tourism and the tourism function of Shannon Development, with a recommendation and decisions due next year.

Minister Varadkar said: 'The Government is determined to tackle waste and end duplication in public spending. This is essential in order to boost the economy and create jobs, keep taxes low, and protect public services'.

"I have already abolished the Dundalk Port Company board, while Coaching Ireland has been subsumed into the Irish Sports Council.

"We are working hand in hand with the public service to create a State sector which is best equipped to achieve these crucial goals. This process of rationalisation will allow us to cut costs, keep taxes low, and maintain competitiveness over the next five years."

#RESCUE - A fisherman on a Spanish vessel is in hospital after being airlifted from some 150 nautical miles southwest of Co Cork early yesterday, The Irish Times reports.

The skipper of the fishing vessel Albelo Primero radioed the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre on Wednesday night, reporting that a 33-year-old crewman had taken ill and required emergency medical attention.

The man was airlifted by coastguard helicopter to Cork Airport and transfered by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.

The Irish Times said his condition is not understood to be life-threatening.

#MOTORBOAT – The owner of a Princess 42 luxury motor yacht has pleaded guilty to carrying more people than licensed to do so between Strangford to Peel, Isle of Man.

The merchant vessel 'Sarah May III' is registered in the UK, certificated under the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels and licensed to carry no more than twelve passengers. On 6th June 2008 it carried more than 20 passengers across the Irish Sea from Strangford to Peel, Isle of Man.

The vessel, owned by local man Mr Grahame Stronge, was captured on CCTV at both Strangford and Peel as the passengers boarded the vessel.

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At the Magistrate's Court in Downpatrick on 7th Nov 2011 the owner pleaded guilty of failing to comply with the Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Vessels and to a breach of survey and certification regulations.

The owner was fined a total of £800

On summing up the Magistrate Brian Archer said:

"Good fortune, as much as there was no accident, the defendant knew he was overloaded and he was lucky there wasn't a tragedy, hopefully this won't happen again.

Captain Bill Bennett, Area Operations Manager (Survey and Inspection) Belfast for the MCA stated that:

"This was a serious breach of the Survey and Certification Regulations and should serve as a reminder to all operators of the dangers of carrying more passengers than the vessel is certificated and equipped to carry. All breaches of the Maritime Regulations are taken seriously by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency."

#FISHING – The skipper of Grimsby based fishing vessel 'Karen', that grounded on rocks at Ardglass in Northern Ireland, has pleaded guilty to the charge of endangering his ship and crew.

On 3rd January 2011 the UK registered fishing vessel 'Karen' was returning from a day's fishing in the Irish Sea when it grounded on the rocks at the North entrance to the port of Ardglass.

The vessel asked for urgent assistance from the Coastguard and the lifeboat from Portaferry was requested to launch to their aid. Because the weather was fair they were able to bring the crew ashore to Ardglass and to put pumps aboard the stricken vessel. The boat was later re-floated as the tide rose, however it sustained serious damage to the bow and keel.

At the Magistrate's Court in Downpatrick on 7th November 2011, skipper Simon Wills pleaded guilty of failing to properly navigate his vessel and to employing crew who were not qualified and did not meet the requirements of the fishing vessel safety training regulations

Mr Wills was fined a total of £600 and ordered to pay £1,250 to the RNLI.

On summing up the Magistrate Brian Archer said,
"It was fortunate that no one was injured."

Captain Bill Bennett, Area Operations Manager (Survey and Inspection) Belfast, for the MCA stated that

"This was a serious breach of the fishing vessel safety training regulations and once again reminds all fishermen of the need to ensure everyone onboard is properly qualified and to safely navigate his vessel and to maintain a lookout at all times.  All breaches of the Maritime Regulations are taken seriously by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency."

#COASTGUARD - Northern Ireland's First Minister has highlighted the need for local knowledge in light of the threatened closure of the Clyde coastguard station in Scotland.

As previously reported by Afloat.ie, the control centre at Greenock is set to be scrapped under the UK government's plans to streamline Britain's coastguard network. 

Some 31 jobs will be lost in the closure, while rescues on the River Clyde and western Scotland will in future be handled from Northern Ireland's Bangor station on Belfast Lough - which itself was saved from the chop following a review over the summer.

In a letter to MSP for West of Scotland, Stuart McMillan, First Minister Peter Robinson said that his and his government's concerns "centre on the safety of the people using our coasts and seaways, which could be jeopardised by the loss of local knowledge and experience."

McMillan welcomed his support, adding that "despite the consultation period being over, it is not too late for the UK Government listen to the growing number of voices saying that this must be reversed.

“Closing coastguard stations down including Clyde is a short-sighted and dangerous move which puts saving money over saving lives.”

Mario Siano is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's national liaison officer for angling. He has been analysing the Coastguard's angling search and rescue incidents over the course of this year and has noticed some interesting trends:

"Many of our angling-related incidents this year have involved angling boats suffering engine failure and having to be towed to safety by lifeboats," says Mario. "This sort of incident doesn't only happen to anglers but is avoidable if you ensure that your engine and boat are well maintained and capable. It may be also be useful to take a set of oars or a spare engine with you. And make sure that you know how to raise the alarm should something go wrong.

"Several angling boats also sank this year causing some anglers to fall into the water. Some were not wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids when they were rescued; they were very lucky indeed.

"As a search planner, I know that it's really difficult to find a person who is not wearing a lifejacket, if they are still afloat, in a vast expanse of water. Wearing a lifejacket will keep you afloat, despite the effects of cold shock, hypothermia, disorientation, injury or weather conditions. It will also hugely improve your chances of being found by rescuers.

"A couple of months ago one angler in particular, whose boat had overturned at night, was not only kept afloat by his lifejacket, but was located by the helicopter search light picking out the reflective strips on his lifejacket. He was taken to hospital in poor condition, but made a full recovery; and no doubt owes his life to the £30 "life insurance" he invested in that lifejacket.

"Some anglers have fallen from rocks and cliffs in to the sea and suffered severe injuries. These areas, by their very nature are slippery, adjacent to deep water, big swells and tide rips and are very difficult to climb back on to should you fall in the water.

"In a recent very tragic incident, a lone middle-aged angler went to fish from rocks. He never returned. To date, despite intensive searching, nothing has been found of him or his gear; and his car was in the car park where he left it. He did not use a lifejacket or mobile phone and had not told anyone where he was going. If you're fishing in a place where you are likely to fall, slip or capsize, into deep, or fast flowing water especially where it will be difficult to get out wear a lifejacket. It could save your life.

"There have also been a few close calls with anglers and bait collectors getting cut off by tides, one in particular, a non swimmer, was up to his neck in water when rescued. So remember to check tidetables before you set out and don't take risks – the tide comes in more quickly than you think."

Angling from kayaks is an up and coming sport but I am pleased to report that it's causing us no real problems at the moment. One small issue is that members of the public report them to the Coastguard because they think that they are in trouble, due to their small size and inactivity. So if you're a kayaking angler let the Coastguard know where you are going and when you expect to leave. Other good safety advice is to get a buddie, get trained, carry the appropriate safety gear, name your kayak and join the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Small Boat Safety Scheme (CG66), it's free and could save your life, full details here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-searchandrescue/cg66.htm

"As well as providing search and rescue coordination for the whole of the UK coastline, HM Coastguard also covers some inland waters such as the Norfolk Broads and some lakes, loughs and lochs. However, my advice is relevant for all anglers, whether salt, freshwater or both.

"You are invited to complete a survey on the wearing of lifejackets and then watch a short video about them, this can be found on line from the following link; please help us to help you."

http://feedback.mcga.gov.uk/v.asp?i=34223yhqfn

Stay safe – The rules are simple –

Before heading out onto the water, or any other potentially dangerous area:
get trained;
familiarise yourself with the area (in good weather and daylight);
get local advice;
check weather and tides;
wear a lifejacket if appropriate;
avoid alcohol;
keep in touch. (tell someone where you are going and when you will be back and let them know any change of plan, and who they should call if you do not return); and
fish with a friend.

Every coastguard station will provide free information leaflets and booklets covering the above. Visit you local station and see what is available.

Remember, the Coastguard is there for all water users including anglers, so if you or someone else is in trouble on or in the water, including medical problems, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard or call us on VHF Channel 16.

A campaigner on Twitter is encouraging supporters to sign an online petition against the closure of coastguard stations across the UK.

So far almost 7,000 signatures have been added to the petition started by Twitter user @Coastguard_SOS in protest at the UK government's plans to streamline the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's nationwide network of rescue centres from 19 to 11.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, campaigners in Scotland have made a desperate plea to save the Clyde station from closure in a public consultation.

Northern Ireland's rescue command centre at Bangor on Belfast Lough is among those saved from the chop following a review of reform proposals this past summer. 

But concerns remain that resources will be stretched too thin if fewer stations are responsible for broader areas.

"The revised proposals are also unacceptable not least on the basis that vital local knowledge will continue be lost and therefore lives will continue to be out at risk on our coastlines," the petition warns.

Emergency services were set to decide this morning whether to resume the search for a kayaker who went missing on Carlingford Lough earlier this week, UTV News reports.

Area man Mark McGowan, 37, was last seen kayaking in the lough at 7.30pm on Monday evening.

His blue kayak was spotted by the Irish Coast Guard on Tuesday at Killowen Point, on the north side of the lough.

Dundalk Gardaí are co-ordinating the cross-border search operation, which was interrupted by bad weather early yesterday.

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Also assisting are the Irish rescue helicopter, Greenore coastguard, Kilkeel's RNLI lifeboat, the south Down coastguard team and the Community Rescue Service.

Meanwhile, the PSNI has appealed for anyone who might have information on McGowan's disappearance to get in touch.

McGowan is described as 5'7" tall, medium build, with a clean shaven, tanned complexion and short bleached blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.

Scottish campaigners have made their final pleas to save the Clyde coastguard station from closure, the Greenock Telegraph reports.

Under the UK government's plans to streamline Britain's coastguard network, 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.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Northern Ireland's only dedicated search and rescue centre on Belfast Lough was saved from the chop following a review of plans to reform the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's nationwide network.

A consultation on the propose closure concluded yesterday, and locals join staff, union leaders and politicians in hoping they can persuade the government to give Clyde a reprieve.

"Local knowledge and understanding are vital when dealing with emergency situations." said local MSP Stuart McMillan.

"To remove a committed and fully functioning coastguard service with expert local knowledge would leave a void that could not be filled by an over stretched centre in Belfast."

The Greenock Telegraph has more on the story HERE (registration required).