Re fit

This is the East Dorset Sector Office and also one of the Poole Teams offices (they keep the vehicle and equipment elsewhere). Situated on Poole Quay its a grand building and has a long history.

Sometime next week the contractor will move in to bring it right up to date, but being a listed building there has to be a lot of care and attention.

You never know someone might start on ours soon!

People behind the scenes

Whilst the team is the "Front line", there are many people at HQ supporting the Coastguard Rescue Service in many ways.

Today I was lucky to meet one of those people whilst on a trip to Poole. Danielle is a member of the Human Resources team based in Southampton, part of her remit is to look after the 3500 (or so) CRO's (Coastguard Rescue Officers) and that's no easy task!

Another Strike

Sadly this weekend some of our colleagues in the Operations Room who belong to the PCS union will be taking industrial action over their long standing pay dispute.

Plans are in place to cover 999 calls and emergencies on the VHF radios, however this weekend sees the start of the summer holidays and this will no doubt put pressure on the system.

Coastguard Rescue Officers are not affected by this action and remain on call and available to respond to any maritime emergency.

The MCA have issued the following

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is reminding holiday makers and boat users to look very carefully at their plans and precautions in advance of a strike called by the Public and Commercial Services Union which will affect Coastguard Stations around the UK this weekend (18th – 20th July).

Rescue 104 & Rescue 106

Another one of those weekends and some interesting incidents with the new helicopters. Being so much faster we don't get much time to think and clear the areas, but they have done a really good job.

I don't think we have ever lifted from the boat park before?

Rescue 104 At Anvil Point

Three wise men plus two friends?

Rescue 106 - Diver CASEVAC

Within 30 seconds of starting this afternoon's patrol the IRT team were tasked to the Lifeboat Jetty to receive a diver who had decompression sickness (DCS) (The 'Bends').

Rescue 106 was immediately tasked to allow prompt CASEVAC

(casualty evacuation) to the recompression chamber at Poole.

Carnival

Carnival time is fast approaching and the committee have been busy organising the many events for the week.

With the extra visitors to the town, this can increase the number of calls for the emergency services so on Tuesday night Pip, Austen and I met with the executive committee of the carnival to run through a few events where Coastguard assistance may be required.

Lets hope this years event is as successful as previous year (hopefully the weather might improve!).

Other than wishing everyone a safe carnival my only other question is will the Coastguard actually manage to get round with the procession without being called out?

The Command Chair

We have visited the office before.

However this poor old seat "The Command throne" has seen some action.

Normally after an incident, it gets piled up with clothes, then turned round and cleared for someone to sit in to write up the incident in the log.

There isn't much room, just enough for the smallest member of the team to sit there.....the Station Officer then!

Sadly being the throne not many kneel at my feet, but I have requested a new super big chair for the new office.

However my boss said no and in fact he might only get a one legged stool like they use to have on the cliffs!