Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Falmouth Coastguard News

27 Aug 2019

Crew Abandon Ship Safely to Survitec Liferaft

Photo: Survitec

Two fishermen whose boat caught fire off the coast of Land’s End, UK, successfully evacuated into a Survitec liferaft and from there were taken ashore by Falmouth Coastguard. The pair activated the Survitec Seasava liferaft and abandoned Ocean Harvest, when it caught fire.The coastguard received emergency calls at around 15.25 BST, and two lifeboats, one from Penleee and one from Sennen, were dispatched alongside a rescue helicopter, but not before the fire completely took hold and engulfed the fishing vessel.

18 Dec 2018

Video: Russian Bulker Aground Off England

(Photo: MCA)

Rescue vessels were heading to assist a Russian bulk cargo ship after it ran aground off beaches in southwest England, Britain's coastguard said on Tuesday.The 180 meter (590 ft) long ship, with 18 Russian crew on board and which the British media said was the Kuzma Minin, dragged its anchor in strong winds and grounded between the Swanpool and Gyllyngvase beaches near Falmouth in Cornwall."There is no cargo on board. She currently has a list of five degrees but there is no report of any pollution…

18 Dec 2018

Russian Cargo Ship Aground off Southwest England

Rescue vessels were heading to assist a Russian bulk cargo ship after it ran aground off beaches in southwest England, Britain's coastguard said on Tuesday.The 180 metre (590 ft) long ship, with 18 Russian crew on board and which the British media said was the Kuzma Minin, dragged its anchor in strong winds and grounded between the Swanpool and Gyllyngvase beaches near Falmouth in Cornwall."There is no cargo on board. She currently has a list of five degrees but there is no report of any pollution," the coastguard said in a statement."Tugs are on their way to the vessel and a lifeboat is standing by at the scene. The Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team have cordoned off an area around the ship."The coastguard said the plan was to refloat the ship when the tide rose.Reporting by Michael Holden

07 Dec 2018

British Golden Globe Yachtswoman Rescued by Cargo Ship

British solo round-the-world yachtswoman Susie Goodall was rescued by a cargo ship on Friday after her boat capsized and lost its mast during a violent storm in the southern Pacific Ocean.The 29-year-old, the youngest entrant in the Golden Globe race, had waited two days for the Hong Kong-registered Tian Fu to arrive after sending a distress signal from 2,000 nautical miles west of Cape Horn.The signal was picked up by Falmouth Coastguard in southwest England, with the alert passed on to race control and the Chilean maritime search and rescue authorities."ON THE SHIP!!!," she said on her Twitter feed after the rescue.Race organisers had earlier reported plans to lift the sailor from the deck of her yacht DHL Starlight using one of the cranes on the 38,000 tonne ship, which was heading to A

10 Jul 2018

Coastguard Responds to Sinking Vessel Off England

At 4: 30 a.m. Falmouth Coastguard received a mayday call from sinking fishing vessel Nemo, 15 miles south of Salcombe, England.Falmouth Coastguard received all the relevant information from the radio operator on the fishing vessel who reported their location and that they had two people on board and were taking on water and listing. HM Coastguard sent the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay and the RNLI all weather lifeboat from Salcombe and made a broadcast to vessels in the area. Several large merchant vessels and two other fishing vessels called Manx Ranger and Celtic Dawn responded to the Coastguard broadcast and went to help; they were able to find and intercept the Nemo using AIS.

19 May 2015

Five Fishermen Rescued After Vessel Sinks

Five fishermen men were rescued from a life raft overnight after their fishing vessel Kairos sank 75 miles west of the Isles of Scilly. UK Coastguard received two distress calls just after 23:45 yesterday, including an EPRIB from the Kairos that gave a GPS location for the vessel. Falmouth Coastguard coordinated the search that involved two Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue helicopters, RNLI St Mary’s lifeboat, fishing vessels and two commercial vessels that were in the area. The five crew were recovered from the life raft to the vessel Cu Na Mara and are currently making their way to Castletownbere in Ireland. All crew are said to be safe and well.

20 Oct 2014

Falmouth CGOC Joins National Network

Falmouth Coastguard Operations Center (CGOC) will become part of the new Coastguard national network for the first time this week. Work has been carried out at the search and rescue coordination center at Pendennis Point, upgrading the technology and introducing new systems. This means Falmouth CGOC will be connected to the National Maritime Operations Center (NMOC) in Hampshire and other Coastguard stations around the country, which will be able to offer mutual support during busy periods. From Saturday, November 1, 2014, Falmouth CGOC and the new national network will start to take on operations from Brixham Coastguard. The changes to Her Majesty’s Coastguard will see the NMOC and 10 other CGOCs around the U.K. work together to manage the workload.

09 Mar 2014

Crew Rescued from Sinking Ship

Falmouth Coastguard has been assisting a cargo vessel which had six people on board and began sinking 12 miles east of the Lizard. The Sea Breeze is an 87m Barbados flagged cargo vessel with six crew onboard. It is carrying 2,750 tons of limestone and was bound for Shoreham at the time of the incident. Lizard and Falmouth RNLI Lifeboats and a rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose attempted to pump water out of vessel, the ‘Sea Breeze’, with their own pumps. Other merchant vessels, who heard the mayday relay broadcast from Falmouth Coastguard, also stood by in case they were required. "We received the mayday broadcast from the ‘Sea Breeze’ at 7:00 am and were able to get lifeboats and the helicopter on scene quickly, along with other vessels that were in the vicinity.

03 Feb 2014

Bus Hit by Wave, Fishermen Rescued in UK Storm

Sea storm wind-waves: Photo courtesy of NOAA

Ten people have been rescued after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a large wave on the seafront road at Newgale in Wales, and 6 from a disabled French commercial fishing vessel off the southwest of England coast in a 60 mph wind. Milford Haven Coastguard say they were contacted with reports that the bus was stuck on the seafront, having been hit by a large wave and was surrounded by water. The wind at the time was gusting over 50mph. Broadhaven and St. Davids Coastguard Rescue Teams…

04 Nov 2013

Five Crew Rescued from Sunken Fishing Boat

Five crew members from a French fishing vessel have been winched to safety after their boat sank in stormy conditions off the Cornish coast. Falmouth Coastguard was first contacted just before 1 a.m. this morning by the French Coastguard, who reported that the 21-meter fishing vessel Panamera was taking on water and their pumps weren’t coping. The RNLI Lizard all-weather lifeboat along with the Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter from Culdrose were sent to the scene. Falmouth Coastguard also issued a mayday relay broadcast, to see if any vessels in the area could help. Two tankers responded to this message and went to the Panamera. They positioned themselves around the boat to provide shelter while waiting for the search and rescue units to arrive.

04 Oct 2013

Satellite Monitoring Captures Tanker Pollution

Photo: ŠEMSA/MDA 2012

At a hearing today at Truro Magistrates Court, the owner of a tanker paid a total of £22,500 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to a breach of U.K. maritime pollution legislation. On February 25, 2012 a satellite operated by European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) detected a ship trailing a slick in the waters between Lands End and the Scilly Isles. A report was made to the MCA. The alert level was given as RED, i.e. high confidence. The ship was identified as the Singapore registered tanker Maersk Kiera. The slick itself was within 12 miles of land.

06 Sep 2013

Skipper Fined After Grounding on Lizard Peninsula

The skipper of a French fishing vessel has been ordered to pay £11,155 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to endangering his vessel and crew together with failing to keep a proper look-out after falling asleep. On the afternoon of Wednesday 28 August 2013 the fishing vessel Scuderia sailed from Roscoff in northern France towards fishing grounds off the Lizard Peninsula. At about 10:30 p.m. the vessel ran aground at Lankidden Cove between Cadgwith and Coverack. Falmouth Coastguard was contacted at 11 p.m. and an emergency response activated, with the Lizard RNLI lifeboat attending together with the Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team. None of the five crew was injured but the forward fuel tank had been ruptured, with the loss of approximately 10 metric tons of diesel.

29 Aug 2013

Fishing Vessel Grounds on Lizard Peninsula

A French fishing vessel has run aground on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula. Falmouth Coastguard was contacted by the vessel Scuderia just after 11 p.m. last night, Wednesday, August 28, reporting that it had run aground at Lankidden Cove, between Cadgwith and Coverack on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula. The Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the RNLI lifeboat from Lizard were sent to the scene. The lifeboat managed to attach a line to the Scuderia but with a falling tide it was not possible to refloat the vessel. There are five crew members on board, but no reported injuries. Damage to the vessel is believed to be slight with no indication of water ingress into the boat. Porthoustock CRT is on scene again this morning.

07 Mar 2013

Unseaworthy Tugboats Sneak Out of UK Port

Newlyn Harbour: Photo credit Geograph Elizabeth Scott CCL

Two tugboats detained in a Westcountry fishing port and condemned as unseaworthy slip out unseen, believed bound for Africa. An investigation has been launched after the sudden disappearance of the two 151-tonne former Ministry of Defence (MoD) "dog class" boats, which are now thought to be bound for Africa. The 70ft tugs – Juliette Pride 1 and 2 – had been tied up at Newlyn, in West Cornwall, after major defects were found by surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency(MCA).

16 Jul 2012

German Container Ship Abandoned mid-Atlantic

MSC Flaminia: Photo credit Wikipedia CCL

At 10:07 on Saturday 14, July 2012 Falmouth Coastguard received the relayed 'Mayday' broadcast from the German registered MSC Flaminia reporting that the crew had abandoned the vessel. Falmouth Coastguard broadcast an alert to all vessels in the area and the nearest vessel which could provide assistance was the oil tanker DS Crown which immediately changed course to intercept the MSC Flaminia. Six other merchant vessels also proceeded to the location to help with the search and rescue operation but were more than six hours from the location.

14 Jun 2012

SatPhone Saves Typhoon Victim

Charlie Martell used the phone to contact Falmouth Coastguard in the UK to summon help after his boat capsized several times when it was hit by winds of up to 50 knots and waves of more than 50ft (15.25m). The double Guinness World Record holder was attempting to set three new world records and raise money for charity in a 4,500 mile (7,242 km) solo crossing of the North Pacific Ocean. Falmouth Coastguard passed on details of his boat Blossom, which was damaged during tropical storm Mawar, to the Japanese Coastguard which then co-ordinated the rescue. Charlie, a Territorial Army Lieutenant and former Royal Engineer, had been at sea for 36 days when the storm damaged one of his boat's main bulkheads.

06 Nov 2008

Cargo Crewmember Medevaced

At quarter past seven on the evening of Nov. 3, Falmouth Coastguard received an Inmarsat Standard C Distress alert from a Ukrainan registered cargo vessel called the Katya Zelenko. The Katya Zelenko was in a position 241 miles off the coast of Kenya. Falmouth Coastguard communicated with the vessel using their satellite communications and was able to ascertain that they had a sick crewman on board who needed immediate medical attention. Falmouth Coastguard made further investigations and ascertained from the Royal Navy Fleet Ops that HMS Northumberland was in a position 150 miles from the cargo vessel with a Merlin helicopter on the warship.

04 Feb 2008

Storm Damages Ship, Injures Master

Falmouth Coastguard last week were coordinating assistance to the `Horncliff, a refrigerated vessel, owned by Pluto shipping company, which has three injured people on board, one seriously, after losing 60 containers overboard in rough weather over 225 miles west south west of the Isles of Scilly. The crew of the vessel, a 1992 built, 12,887 ton cargo ship which is flying the Liberian flag reported at 12.30 p.m. to Falmouth Coastguard that the vessel had lost all her deck cargo but was still managing to make her way in very rough weather. The Master of the vessel is seriously injured whilst two passengers on board require medical attention. There are a total of 31 people on board. The vessels last port of call was Moin in Costa Rica and was heading for Dover, but may divert to Antwerp.

13 Jan 2004

Ship Towed After Engine Room Fire

On January 11, 2004, Falmouth Coastguard received a call from the master of the general cargo vessel SEA FOX, reporting that they had had a fire in the engine room and were disabled and drifting in the Lands End Traffic Separation Zone. For the safety of the crew and to guard against any threat of pollution if the vessel drifted ashore, Falmouth Coastguard instructed the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel “Anglian Princess” to take the SEA FOX under tow to the safety of Falmouth where the damage to the engine room can be assessed. Mike Quinn, Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager, said: “The fire had already been extinguished when the vessel called us and we don’t know the cause at this stage, there have been no reports of injuries to any of the nine crew.

15 Jan 2004

Falmouth Coastguard Searches for Missing Crew

14 miles South by West of Lizard Point in Cornwall. distress alert from an Emergency Positioning Beacon (EPIRB). the scene, while the ERIDAN proceeded to the location of the sunken vessel. proceeding to the scene. are being transferred to shore by the helicopter. the three remaining crew. with rough seas and moderate to poor visibility.

25 Aug 2004

UK MCA and USCG Coordinate Rescue of Rower in the Pacific

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued a Press Notice stating that it and the U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of a single-handed British ocean rower in the Pacific approximately 1600 miles west of the United States. Falmouth Coastguard received an alert from the rower’s distress beacon and then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska. The USCG vectored the container ship HANJIN PHILADELPHIA to the location. (HK Law)

28 Mar 2002

CITIS 2002 Awards Honor Innovators

Communications and IT companies in shipping were toasted at the CITIS 2002 Awards in London in March with top honors going to a daily electronic newspaper, an evacuation simulator, a collision avoidance trainer and a message management concept. In addition to innovation awards in four categories, International Maritime Organization secretary general William O’Neil received a lifetime achievement award for overseeing the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System. The winners, selected by expert judges from a shortlist of three in each category, were announced at a gala dinner at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre during the sixth CITIS event, organized by Lloyd’s List Events.

04 Mar 2002

Nominees For CITIS 2002 Awards Announced

Providers in the communications and IT in shipping sector have been short-listed for innovation honors in the CITIS 2002 Awards. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner during the sixth CITIS event -hosted and sponsored by Inmarsat in London from March 18-22 - which also features a conference, seminars and an exhibition. The dinner will take place on March 19 at the Underglobe in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. In addition to awards in four commercial categories, International Maritime Organization secretary general William O’Neil is to receive a lifetime achievement award for steering the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System.