Anvil Point Lighthouse - Emergency Phone.

The IRT were tasked to Anvil Point Lighthouse this afternoon following a 'dropped call' from the emergency telephone to the HMCoastguard Operations Room (MRCC).

The telephone automatically connects to the Ops Room when picked up and it would appear someone picked the phone up and put it down again; perhaps out of curiosity rather than ill intent.

The team are routinely sent to firstly check there isn't an emergency, and secondly to offer words of advice to people you might be messing round with it. On this occasion the IRT spoke to the a family holidaying at the lighthouse who confirmed that they had not seen any other children using it.

Speedboat Sinks

The BBC Website describes how our colleagues at Portland MRCC co-ordinated the rescue of a group whose speedboat sank in Bournemouth at the weekend.
Would you take a young child to sea in a small boat with no lifejackets, radio or safety gear?...Somebody did!

Swanage Cliff Rescue Team Deployed

Swanage Coastguard were 'Team paged' today for a person last seen on the edge of the cliff up on The Downs above Peveril Point.

A lady in a pink top was sat on the edge of the cliff and was unresponsive when a Swanage Town Council groundsman asked if everything was ok; he returned one minute later and the lady was gone - he called 999 and asked for the Coastguard.

Cliff Rescue Team ready to deploy again.

The team were on scene in 6 minutes and deployed a cliff rescue technician to ascertain whether the lady could be seen. Due to the nature of the cliffs and a number of blind spots the Swanage RNLI Inshore boat was asked to attend and put two of their crew ashore - another quick response from them.

Other rescue assets in the area were deployed including Maritime Coastguard Agency Boat - MCA Osprey along with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 104 which was in the Weymouth area transiting back to Lee on Solent. A full search was undertaken.

Coastguard R106,  MCA Osprey and Swanage ILB (RNLI)

Although the Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team was stood down with nothing found - the initial information given was with good intent and matched what the team saw on the ground - lots of broken grass and slip marks including what appeared to be more marks half way down the cliff. Very odd.

The cliffs are a lot steeper than many people think!
(Photo:- Coastguard Oscar - during training last year)

Thanks to our local Portland MRCC for co-ordinating the rescue again!

MOC Unveiled

On the BBC News, a report on the unveiling of the new Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) near Fareham which will eventually replace Portland Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC).

Coastguard - The Future

The Coastguard has made this announcement today on the future of the Coastguard

"I am writing to let you know that following the independent review of the responses of the second period of consultation on our proposals to modernise Her Majesty's Coastguard the Secretary of State for Transport has today announced the Government's decision. This can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/emergencyresponse/mcga-searchandrescue.htm

This means that we have now begun the process of moving to a national networked Coastguard operation with a Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) at its heart. We're also able to announce today that the MOC will be located near Fareham in Hampshire at a purpose built emergency services control centre that was originally designated as a fire control centre.

In addition to this centre there will also be Coastguard centres. at Dover, Aberdeen, Shetland, Stornoway, Belfast, Holyhead, Milford Haven, Falmouth and Humber all operating 24/7. The London coordination centre will continue to be co-located with the Port of London Authority.

We are also improving the leadership of the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service by strengthening the numbers of existing regular Coastguard officers based in these coastal communities and I'm also pleased to be able to announce that the Coastguard Rescue Service will be strengthened by an increase of 50% to the number of full time officers available to the volunteers for operational attendance, leadership and advice.

This will allow much more flexibility in the management and training of our volunteers and help to remove the current uneven distribution of Coastguard Rescue Teams between their management.

It will also give a greater presence of Coastguard officers in coastal communities and provide increased opportunity for interaction with other emergency services and coastal leisure and commercial bodies.

These officers will operate in teams with a focal point or operational hub. It is intended that these will be based in;

Existing Centres

Lerwick

Aberdeen,

Bridlington,

Walton-on-the-Naze,

Dover,

Falmouth,

Swansea,

Liverpool,

Belfast

Stornoway.

Additional Centres

Moray Firth

Northeast England,

Southampton/Portsmouth,

Dorset,

North Devon,

Cardigan Bay,

Strathclyde

Oban/Fort William

I know that you like me will be acutely aware that whilst this announcement is the beginning of a new era for HM Coastguard it will a time of massive change for colleagues currently based in Yarmouth, Thames, Solent, Portland, Brixham, Swansea, Liverpool, Forth and Clyde whose stations will be closing before 31 March 2015.

This structural change is about the way the regular Coastguard service coordinates search and rescue operations. It is not about the UK's rescue capability. Although we are reducing staff numbers, our new structure will give the UK a nationally networked Coastguard service that is resilient, effective and efficient. We will continue to provide a quality safety service to the mariner and coastal user and I'd like to thank you for your continued support as we move forward."

Full details on the MCA website

Coastguard Consultation

Update on the Ops Room Consultation and support from the local MP.

BBC ........10:15.......UK coastguard station closure plans 'put on hold'

BBC ........10:15.......UK coastguard station closure plans 'put on hold'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13453983

Let's hope Portland MRCC are one of those chosen to be retained.

Tonight's Public Meeting

Public Meeting to discuss the closure of Portland MRCC


Venue:  All Saints School,Sunnyside Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9BJ

Date and Time: 19:30 Tuesday 8th March 2011

Date for your Diary

The BBC News reports that a public meeting will be held next month over the proposed closure of Dorset's Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) at Portland.

Look Outside

Falmouth Coastguard had an incident almost on their own doorstep last night, according to the BBC News.

This will be one of the MRCCs reverting to a 'daylight-only' operation if the plans in the consultation document go through, in which case this rescue would have been co-ordinated from either Hampshire or Scotland.

Executive Summary

Sorry we seem to be banging on about the HM Coastguard Modernisation Proposals but it's the only opportunity to comment on how the service will be shaped for the next 20 years.


For all those busy people I've copied below the executive summary to the proposals. In the interests of fairness I shall not provide my personal view or the consensus view of the team.

Please spend a moment to read the summary and if you have comments please fill in the online the Questionnaire  to make your comments known. It's your Coastguard service really... so have your say.



Executive Summary



For two centuries, the Coastguard has been helping to manage the use of our seas and protect those who use them. The sea is vital to our economy, while millions use it for recreational purposes. However, we are changing the way we use our waters and our shores. This is making our coastline far busier than ever before. We are building much larger ships that are less manoeuvrable and drilling rigs and increasing numbers of wind farms pepper the seas around the UK. As a result our seas are becoming much more congested. Weather conditions are also becoming more extreme, with significant weather events becoming more frequent and severe, making work at sea more perilous and increasing the risk of coastal flooding. However, updated technologies and systems, including automated systems to track ships wherever they might be, offer real opportunities to manage better what is going on around our coasts and to deal with incidents when they arise. At the same time, current economic conditions mean there is an imperative to deliver efficiencies and reduce costs.



The current arrangement of the Coastguard dates back forty years and is not well placed to respond to these challenges. Eighteen Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres are spread across the UK, together with a small centre in London. Each centre's systems are 'paired' with a neighbour allowing them to work together when necessary, but beyond these pairings the stations are not interoperable. This means that the system suffers from a fundamental lack of resilience. In the event of a problem affecting both centres in a pair, it is not possible for an incident to be managed from another centre. It is also impossible to spread workloads across the system; so staff in one centre may be struggling to cope with call volumes while workloads in another may be low. In addition both emergency and non-emergency demand varies widely by geographical location, the time of day, and the time of year. Analysis shows that the busiest centres handle over five times as many incidents as the quietest with 30% of all incidents happening in July and August and 70% of all incidents occurring between 9am and 7pm. These uneven workloads lessen resilience, hamper staff development and lead to higher than necessary staff costs.






The latest technology means the Coastguard can be completely reconfigured to deliver a more integrated and improved level of service, at lower cost, with better-rewarded staff taking on increased responsibilities and with enhanced career opportunities.


This consultation document sets out proposals which would enable fewer Coastguard centres to monitor and communicate with ships anywhere around the UK coastline, as well as delivering complete integration between stations. This will allow greater flexibility and improved resilience when responding to calls, particularly at peak times. In turn, these proposals would mean enhanced roles and responsibilities for a smaller number of officers, matched by improvements in remuneration. Coastguard Modernisation Consultation 8


These proposals include:

• Establishing two nationally networked Maritime Operations Centres, capable of managing maritime incidents wherever they occur and with improved systems to monitor ships and manage incidents. One would be located in Aberdeen, the other in the Portsmouth/Southampton area.
  
• Establish six sub-centres, fully integrated into the national network around the coast operating during daylight hours only with exception of Dover that would continue to operate around the clock. On the basis of an evaluation of the existing sites and the facilities available at them, it is proposed four of these should be located at Dover, Falmouth, Humber and Swansea. We also require sub-centres at either Belfast or Liverpool and either Stornoway or Shetland. The case for selection between these locations is more marginal. We are therefore inviting comments and information about factors that should influence the choice of sites for these two sub-centres. The 24/7 small centre at London would remain unchanged.
  
• Providing high quality and demanding jobs for our Coastguards, with the job weight and pay reflecting the increased demands placed upon them in line with Civil Service pay guidelines.
  
• Strengthening the leadership and support provided to our volunteer Coastguards in the Coastguard Rescue Service who serve their local communities by providing an effective, knowledgeable and responsive local rescue service.

These proposals would reduce staff numbers. Coastguards stationed in the centres would fall from 491 today to 248, while the number of regular Coastguards supporting the volunteers in the Coastguard Rescue Service would increase from 80 to 105 to improve its operational leadership. Headquarters staff would fall from 25 to 17. Overall staffing numbers would fall from 596 today to 370 over a four-year period with higher quality and better paid jobs for those remaining. All existing staff would be given opportunities to apply for posts within the new structure. Staff leaving the service would be eligible for compensation for early exits in line with the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.






The consultation proposes that the transition to the new service would begin in 2011/12 and take place over a four-year period. This would allow time for the new Maritime Operations Centres to be set up and a phased programme changing existing Maritime Rescue Centres into sub-centres.






Subject to the outcome of the consultation it is likely that this could lead to redundancies. Should this be the case, we would follow the Cabinet Office protocols for handling surplus staff situations and engage with the Trade Coastguard Modernisation Consultation Union Side as early as possible to ensure that best efforts are made to avoid compulsory redundancies.






Overall, we believe that implementing these proposals will result in a Coastguard service fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century and capable of delivering an improved service to mariners and the general public.






However, before any changes are made, we are conducting a 14-week consultation. This document sets out the background to the proposed changes, the main effects, and provides some questions to assist you when submitting your response. In developing these proposals, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency would welcome comments and information about factors that should influence the choice of sites for both Maritime Operations Centres and for sub-centres. Responses will be accepted, either on the electronic form provided, or in writing, up until 5pm on March 24, 2011.

F.A.W.G.I.

999 calls to the Coastguard are important

Without the public's input , many lives could be at risk so if you see something or think someone is in trouble dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Never think that someone else will call it in....often only one call is taken reporting something to our MRCC's

Thinking someone is in trouble is very different to a Hoax call, we would much rather be called out to check or be cancelled on route than not be called and someone losing their live.

Sometimes we turn up and there is a simple answer to what the member of the public has seen. A good example of this is a report of flares off Old Harry which we often get. When we arrive or checks are made, its found to be an aircraft going into Bournemouth Airport but this should NEVER put people off calling, this is what we call a FAWGI or False Alarm With Good Intent.

Portland Coastguard (MRCC) and the Kayakers

The Dorset Echo report on the kayakers; again this incident reinforces how important local MRCCs are to your Coastguard service:-


Coastguard watch manager Ros Evans told the Dorset Echo: “Knowledge of the local area is very important but it’s also having that awareness of the area.We all live locally and from the minute we leave our homes we know what the wind is doing and what the tides and Race are doing.”
She added: “With our local knowledge we know which is the most appropriate lifeboat to use and how to task the resources.
“We know which coastguards live nearest the hospital to go and organise the helicopter landing site.
All this can be taught but it takes years before it becomes an instinct.”

She said: “They were extremely lucky. We are really glad they are all right.


If you have views about the reorganisation of MRCC's in the UK please take a look at the Consultation document on the right hand side of this blog.

Busy start to 2011

After the two rescues mentioned in our last entry, the ops team at Portland MRCC have been busy again today according to this BBC news story

Another busy day at Portland MRCC

Portland MRCC staff had another busy afternoon yesterday.

1st down at Lulworth with a dog and owner over the cliff.

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=04FBD832ED445906&m=1&y=2011

Then off Portland Bill in the tide race 16 kayakers got in trouble. 2 rescue helicopters, 2 lifeboats, Customs cutter, Portland Bill Coastguard, NCI Portland, Wyke Coastguard, a Sector Manager, South Western Ambulance all got involved.

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=17F5E2E07997592B&m=1&y=2011

Fog

The fog last Wednesday.......in the distance is Ocean Bay.

This picture reminded me of the incident last year when the patrol was out on Ballard Down and came involved in quite a few lost runners. The fog had set in and made the route rather tricky with runners confused where the next check point was.

As we start a new year are you thinking of organising an event in a coastal area? If so perhaps as part of your risk assessment you contact your local Coastguard MRCC for some advice? Its free and may just save a call out during your event.

Our local MRCC is Portland Coastguard and they can be contacted on 01305 760439. (this number is for non emergency calls) For readers around the rest of the country please contact you local MRCC, the number will be in the phone book or at http://www.mcga.gov.uk/

Back in Action

The team was back in action on Tuesday night, involved in the search for a male who got seperated from the rest of his party on a walk back from Seacombe to Langton. Unlike the clear cold days of the last month, the weather turned damp yesterday with a heavy mist and this combined with failing light, cold temperatures and slippy conditions served to disorientate the walker who ordinarily knew the area well.

When the alarm was raised, the ops team at Portland Coastguard put their extensive knowledge of the area to good use and directed the search which also involved our coastguard rescue colleagues at St Albans and Dorset Police.

The story had a happy ending when the walker turned up after nearly six hours, cold, wet, tired and very muddy, but otherwise safe and well. If you're planning a walk along the coast path over the next few days, take care -after the recent snow, it's very muddy and slippery and when it's dark and foggy and you're tired, lost and alone it's not the best place to be!

The blog returns

After the Christmas break, we are back.....

Thankfully the team had a quite few days with no call outs, although a windsurfer caused the watch keeper at NCI some concern this afternoon. Just as he liaised with Portland MRCC the windsurfer managed to get ashore safely.

So as we approach the end of the year, we will highlight some of the incidents that occurred during 2010.

Not the best headline

I've just got in to be greeted by this headline in our local paper. Already a family member has been on the phone concerned its our station that is closing.

I fear my phone will be busy again tomorrow explaining to our local supporters what this consultation is all about.
Remember our earlier Blog about the difference between our station and a MRCC, we urge everyone to read the consultation document (see the link to the right) and reply on the points raised.

Driving

Someone left a question on one of the recent blogs asking if we have nominated drivers for the vehicle?

Not a easy question to answer as many factors come into play.

When you join and if you have a driving license, you start to learn to drive the vehicle on dry roads . From there you progress on to other conditions and other terrains, sand, mud etc. but still not under emergency condtions. Only when the Sector Manager and Station Officer are happy can you progress to "blue light" driving and then again going through all the different terrain conditions.

There is also trailer driving, which these days can cause a problem as not everyone has a trailer entitlement on their licenses anymore.

Down here we dont get snow very often so training under these conditions doesnt happen very often.

So to answer the oringinal question, yes everyone can drive the vehicle, however it depends on the incident, the location and the training the individual has had.

Currently with this weather its down to a Risk Assessment, discussed with the Operations Room, the Sector Manager, Station Officer or Deputy Station Officer.