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Coastguard Rescue News

09 Mar 2021

Tanker Crew Member Medevaced in Brodick Bay

(Photo: RNLI/TroonLifeboat)

An ailing crew member was medevaced from a tanker at anchor in Brodick Bay off Scotland, on Sunday,At 4.53 p.m., Troon lifeboat was tasked by Belfast Coastguard along with Arran lifeboat to assist with the medical evacuation of a crew member from the tanker Kongo Star at anchor in Brodick Bay.Also tasked was the Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Prestwick, Rescue 199 and Arran Coastguard Rescue Team.Troon RNLI all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat was launched and headed…

03 Feb 2021

Valaris Drillship Goes Adrift off Scotland

A Valaris drillship went adrift on Tuesday evening, breaking free from moorings near the port at Hunterston, North Ayrshire, Scotland.According to BBC, which was the first to report on the incident on Wednesday, "a major rescue operation has been ongoing overnight," when the 228 meters drillship, Valaris DS4, broke free and started drifting without power.According to the news agency, coastguard rescue teams, vessels, and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene, and no injuries have been reported.Offshore Engineer has reached out to Valaris and Maritime and Coastguard Agency, seeking more info. Valaris did not immediately respond. A…

22 Jun 2020

Video: Ferry Strikes a Yacht in England

(Credit RNLI/Poole)

At around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, HM Coastguard was alerted to a collision and reports that a small boat was stuck under the prow of the Sandbanks chain ferry in Dorset, England.HM Coastguard sent Swanage and Poole Coastguard rescue teams, and two RNLI lifeboats from Poole attended.Two people on board the small boat, which is described as a 22-foot privately owned shrimper, were recovered onto the ferry without injuries.The vessel had become hung up on the side of the ferry, with…

31 Jul 2019

QinetiQ Supports Next Gen SAR Missions

British multinational defence technology company Qinetiq collaborates with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to investigate how drone technology can strengthen their Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.Small unmanned air systems are delivering disruptive change across the industry. Ten years ago what was predominantly a niche hobby, or military technology, has now found wide commercial success. Anyone can easily have an eye in the sky and recent publicity is changing the way organisations view their problems.The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) oversees search and rescue operations in the UK. Their volunteer Coastguard Rescue Teams respond to time-critical calls and work tirelessly to save lives.Funded by QinetiQ’s Internal Research and Development…

13 Mar 2019

Six Rescued From French FV

Six crew from a fishing vessel in distress have been airlifted from their disabled vessel off Lands End in atrocious weather conditions over night. HM Coastguard was alerted at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday night to the 24m French registered fishing vessel, La Fanette which had suffered engine failure. Another fishing vessel went to assist and HM Coastguard requested the launch of Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat. Despite attrocious weather, Sennen Cove Lifeboat launched but due to 5-6 meter waves on scene and storm force winds, it was impossible for either the fishing vessel or the lifeboat to establish a tow with La Fanette. Penlee RNLI all weather lifeboat also attended. The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

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

02 Sep 2018

Dredger Gypsey Race's Crew Rescue a Woman

The dredger Gypsey Race rescued a woman who'd fallen from Berwick Pier, UK yesterday (September 02) morning. She was in the water for 1 1/2 hrs before the dredger crew saved her life. Unfortunately their vessel grounded and they are now waiting for high water to refloat.The crew of the dredger, Gypsey Race, noticed the woman clinging to the wall at 8.30 this morning and made an immediate call to the Coastguard whilst going to her aid. The Coastguard requested the Berwick RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats to launch and the Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team to attend.By the time that the lifeboats and coastguard team arrived on scene, the crew of the dredger had managed to rescue the woman from her predicament.

18 Oct 2017

Captain Fined after Ship Grounds off Northern Ireland

MV Ruyter (Photo: MCA)

The captain of a Dutch cargo ship that ran aground at Rathlin Island has been fined £1,000 ($1,300) at Armagh Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to failing to keep a proper look out. Ship’s captain Aleksandr Iakovtsov of the MV Ruyter pleaded guilty to charges brought by the U.K. Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). He was charged under the Merchant Shipping Distress Signals and Prevention of Collision Regulations 1996 and also of failing to safely navigate his ship and causing serious damage to the ship (in breach of section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995).

08 Aug 2016

Semi-submersible Drilling Rig Grounds off Scotland

Severe weather has caused semi-submersible drilling rig Transocean Winner to break free from tow and run aground off the western isles of Scotland, the U.K. Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) said. There are no personnel on board the rig and there is no risk to life, MCA said. There is 280mt of diesel on board. The tug Alp Forward encountered severe weather west of the Isle of Lewis while towing the Transocean Winner, and remained connected to the rig overnight on Sunday but was unable to make headway with the tow. The MCA’s Emergency Towing Vessel Herakles was deployed from Orkney on Sunday night to assist. Early Monday morning, the tow line parted, and due to the severe weather conditions it was not possible to reconnect.

21 Jun 2016

Moth Survey Prompts a UK Coastguard Search

On Tuesday, June 21 at 4:30 a.m., a small local fishing vessel reported seeing a static white light 30 meters above the cliffs at Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. Worried that there might be someone in trouble on the cliffs, the U.K. Coastguard sent Oban and Campbeltown Coastguard Rescue Teams, Campbeltown RNLI all weather lifeboat and the U.K. Coastguard search and rescue helicopter, callsign R999, based at Prestwick, to the location. Arriving on scene, the Campbeltown Lifeboat discovered that the bright light was actually being used to attract moths to a white sheet as part of a biodiversity night survey. All teams were stood down and returned to base. Stephen Turner, U.K.

28 Apr 2016

Fishing Crew Missing off Wales

The U.K. Coastguard is searching for the crew of a sunken fishing vessel near St David’s Head, Pembrokeshire.   The Coastguard said it received a 999 call from a member of the public just before 14:30, April 28, to say they could see a fishing vessel in difficulty near the rocks at St David’s Head.   The fishing vessel subsequently sank. It is unknown how many crew members were on board.    The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan, Coastguard Rescue Teams from St David's Head and Fishguard are searching the area.

09 Feb 2016

Seventh Whale Stranded Off Norfolk Coastline

A seventh whale has been reported in shallow water off the coast of Mundesley, Norfolk this morning, February 9. A member of the Mundesley Coastguard Rescue Team contacted the UK Coastguard just after 10 a.m. this morning to report the whale was 300-400 yards off shore. The whale, which is the seventh whale in that area, was reported to be alive and thrashing about in the shallow water. UK Coastguard has alerted Happisburgh and Mundesley Coastguard Rescue Teams who are currently on the shoreline keeping a watchful eye over the position of whale. British Divers Marine Life Rescue, the Zoological Society of London, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Receiver of Wreck and the local council have also been informed.

29 Jan 2016

Drifting Cargo Ship Taken Under Tow

A cargo vessel that went adrift off the west coast of Cornwall and Devon after encountering engine difficulties is currently under tow, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported. The 91-meter-long vessel reported that it was drifting without power y Thursday just after 12:30 p.m. The ship is carrying a cargo of scrap metal, and all seven crew have remained on board. The vessel is currently 5 nautical miles north west off Hartland Point heading to Lundy Island, and the Appledore and Padstow RNLI lifeboats are currently on scene along with the Dutch war ship HNLMS De Ruyter. The HNLMS De Ruyter is now towing the vessel to Lundy Island, North Devon where the vessel can anchor and shelter from the weather. Bremen Fighter, a tug from Holyhead Harbour is also on its way.

14 Dec 2015

Dover, London CGOC Join National Network

Photo: Dover

Press release - Dover and London Coastguard Operations Centers (CGOC) have become part of the new Coastguard national network. Work has been carried out at both search and rescue coordination centers to upgrade the technology and introduce new systems. This means Dover and London 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 and share work during busy periods.

28 Aug 2015

Man Earns Jail Time for Hoax Coast Guard Calls

A man found guilty of making numerous hoax calls to the U.K. Coastguard has been jailed for four months, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported. Alasdair Munro, 55, from Kyleakin, Skye, denied all charges before Sheriff Scott at Portree Sheriff Court on August 27, 2015, but was found guilty of an offence contrary to the Communications Act 2003 section 127, according to the MCA. Munro had reportedly called HM Coastguard several times on October 30, 2013, claiming a yacht was lost in Loch Hourn. Munro said he had spoken to someone on VHF radio stating that they were lost in Loch Hourn and didn’t know how to get out. The call led to the deployment of a Mallaig RNLI Lifeboat and Kyle Coastguard Rescue Teams to search for the vessel…

03 Aug 2015

Five Rescued from Yatch in Solent, UK

Five people have been rescued from the Solent after their small leisure boat suffered engine failure and began taking on water. The occupants of the boat made a 999 call to the Coastguard but were unable to give a precise location which caused the emergency services to launch a large search over a wide area. Independent lifeboats from Gosport, Hamble and Ryde, along with the Portsmouth RNLI lifeboat, conducted a search through the central Solent. The struggling boat was located by lifeboats and a Coastguard helicopter. "The vessel, which had five people on board, had suffered engine failure and because of the weather conditions, began taking in water.

15 Jun 2015

UK Coastguard Searching for Vessel Taking on Water

The U.K. Coastguard is currently coordinating the search for a vessel which may be in distress and taking on water somewhere in the Newhaven area, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. 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 U.K. Coastguard said, “We received a broken message via VHF radio this afternoon at about 2:30 p.m. that a vessel needed assistance because it had a hole in its side and was taking water.

20 Feb 2015

Vessel Aground in Badcall Bay

A Norwegian-flagged fish carrier vessel, Viktoria Lady, ran aground on a rock in Badcall Bay about 20 miles northwest from Ullapool this morning, the U.K Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported. The 1,186-gross-tonnage, 53m-long vessel, which has seven people aboard, has refloated and proceeded to anchor under her own power. No pollution has been reported. A search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway and Lochinver lifeboat were tasked along with Lochinver Coastguard Rescue Team. The helicopter has left the scene as the lifeboat is standing by. Lochinver lifeboat and the CRT remain on scene monitoring the vessel and checking for any pollution. An underwater inspection of the hull will be carried out by divers.

12 May 2015

Crew Winched to Safety Near Skegness

Two people have been winched to safety after their vessel suffered engine failure and began to take on water, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. The call came in as a Mayday to Humber Coastguard Operation Centre at 7:36 a.m. (BST) today from the Dolphin of Rhu, north of the windfarm between Skegness and the River Humber. Calculating the boat’s position had to be done using VHF direction finding because there seemed to be no GPS and two lifeboats – Humber and Skegness were tasked to find the vessel. Other vessels on the scene also came in to help the search. It was also decided to call in the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Humberside because of the potentially serious nature of the incident.

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.

05 Jan 2015

Search Suspended for Missing Crew of Cemfjord

The search for eight crew missing from the cement carrier, ‘Cemfjord’ which capsized and sank in the Pentland Firth has been suspended this evening, with no sign found of the missing crew. The lifeboats completed their search areas earlier this afternoon and returned to shore. The helicopter, coastguard rescue teams, fixed wing aircraft and HMS Somerset continued to search but sadly, by last light this evening nothing was found. The families of the missing crew have been notified. The Coastguard will continue to broadcast messages to all shipping requesting that they are informed about any information or sightings that could be related to the vessel. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed and is about to begin work on the investigation.

20 Jan 2015

Five Airlifted from Sea after Fishing Vessel Sinks

The U.K. Coastguard was notified of a fishing vessel in distress just before 11 a.m. this morning. The Iuda Naofa, a 23-meter Irish fishing vessel, was taking on water 48 miles north of the Butt of Lewis, the U.K Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. A Coastguard Rescue helicopter was requested to attend the scene and drop a salvage pump onto the Iuda Naofa to pump off the ingress of water. However, the vessel became swamped and started to sink. The helicopter airlifted two of the crew onto the nearby sister fishing vessel, the Star of Hope. The other three crew were transferred by helicopter to the Western Isles hospital, where they are being treated for mild hypothermia.