IRT or BURT

Initial Response Team (IRT) or Back Up Response Team (BURT), the two different stages of a Coastguard call out.

When an incident starts, the watch officers at the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) decide what resources are required.

Taking today’s incident with the yacht, Swanage Lifeboat is launched to assist the yacht, whilst this is being done, Coastguards are required to be the eyes and ears on the ground for the staff in the centres reporting back any additional information required whilst the lifeboat crew deal with the tow.

Not all the team is required for such an incident so an IRT is requested; the IRT normally consists of two Coastguard Rescue Officers (CRO’s) however that can increase depending on the type of incident.
Should a search of cliff incident occur then the whole team (BURT) is requested straight away, a cliff incident requires a minimum of eight CRO’s and of course a search requires as many as possible to cover the area as quickly as possible.

The yacht towed in by Swanage Lifeboat today, the IRT monitored the lifeboat until safely back on the slip. Normally the IRT would also discuss with the skipper what had happened and offer advice if required, today the crew of the yacht remained on board the yacht.